(From left) senior research fellow Dr Ye Senyun of NTU’s School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Prof Lam Yeng Ming of NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE); Prof Sum Tze Chien, Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies at NTU and Associate Dean (Research) of NTU’s College of Science and research fellow Dr Rao Haixia of NTU’s MSE. Credit: NTU Singapore
While solar cells made from perovskite materials offer a promising alternative to silicon-based solar cells, they currently have a shorter lifespan due to their sensitivity to moisture, oxygen, heat and light. However, a research team from NTU College of Science and NTU College of Engineering have developed a way to make perovskite solar cells more stable and efficient.
Silicon-based solar cells still dominate the solar cell industry, but their manufacturing costs are high due to the need for large amounts of energy and high-purity silicon. Additionally, silicon solar cells are typically rigid and relatively thick in design.
In contrast, perovskite solar cells can be made at lower temperatures and are more efficient at absorbing light. The term “perovskite” refers to a specific crystal structure where positively and negatively charged ions are arranged in a cube-like pattern. This structure enables perovskite solar cells to be thin, lightweight, and flexible. However, they are highly vulnerable to environmental factors, which can cause rapid degradation.
To address this challenge, the team, led by Prof Sum Tze Chien, Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies at NTU and Associate Dean (Research) of NTU’s College of Science, and Prof Lam Yeng Ming of NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering, developed a technique called selective templating growth (STG). STG forms chemically inert interface layers on the surface of perovskite materials, which significantly enhances the stability of the solar cells.
With this new strategy to improve the stability and durability of perovskite solar cells, the team hopes to bring these solar cells closer to commercial viability and widespread production.
Read more in the NTU Research Hub and at Nature