Perovskite Solar Cells: 26.5% Efficiency via Defect Reduction

에너지신문（esnews） South Korea

Overview

Researchers from Argonne National Laboratory, Sungkyunkwan University, and other institutions have developed a crystal growth technique that reduces defects in perovskite materials. This method achieved a 26.5% energy conversion efficiency in small-scale solar cells and demonstrated improved durability under high-temperature conditions.

In Depth

Key Findings

A joint research team including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, Sungkyunkwan University, and the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology has achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 26.5% for small-scale perovskite solar cells, with a certified measurement of 25.9%. The team also produced mini-modules exceeding 15㎠ with an efficiency of 23.9%. Beyond photovoltaics, the technology enabled a light conversion external quantum efficiency of 26.1% when applied to LEDs.

Technical Details

The researchers addressed the issue of microscopic defects that form during the crystallization of perovskite, which typically hinder charge transport and reduce lifespan. To mitigate this, the team utilized a “eutectic” phenomenon by mixing zinc bromide and methylammonium chloride, allowing the material to melt briefly at low temperatures and rearrange uniformly.

The crystal growth process follows four stages:

• Starting material: Zinc-containing additives are placed between small perovskite crystals.
• Initial melting: Heating triggers the eutectic effect, melting parts of the crystal boundaries.
• Crystal growth: Atoms rearrange, increasing crystal size and reducing internal defects.
• Final solidification: Volatile components evaporate, leaving a large, uniform crystal structure.

During heat treatment, methylammonium chloride evaporates while zinc gathers at the grain boundaries to reduce defects. This process was verified using the Advanced Photon Source (APS) X-ray nanoprobe at Argonne.

Background & Context

The study, published in the October 8 issue of Science, involved collaborations with Princeton University and UC San Diego. Perovskites are semiconductor materials capable of converting light to electricity and vice versa, making them suitable for solar cells, LEDs, displays, and optical sensors.

Significance & Outlook

The technology demonstrates significant durability; small cells maintained 85.8% of their initial efficiency after 1,400 hours of continuous operation at 85°C. While these results suggest a path toward large-area manufacturing, the researchers note that laboratory performance does not guarantee mass-production yields or long-term stability in outdoor environments. Further verification of manufacturing reproducibility and environmental stability is required for commercialization.

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