Hybrid photovoltaic cells with high efficiency!          

The quick progress in making solar cells using perovskite materials has resulted in lab devices performing as well as commercial ones. In early 2024, a team of scientists from the UK and Australia demonstrated these devices in action.

A few words about research

The pioneering analyses were carried out by scientists from the University of Cambridge, Monash University, the University of Sydney, and the University of New South Wales. They collaborated under the coordination of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), with funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Together, they produced flexible photovoltaic cells of different sizes using R2R technology. What sets these cells apart?

What is Roll-to-roll technology?

The Roll-to-roll technique, known as R2R, involves applying “active layers” that generate an electric charge to a flexible tape, using methods akin to those in the printing industry. While development of this method has been ongoing worldwide for several years, only an inter-university group of scientists has achieved notably high efficiency results. Their success is attributed to the utilization of perovskite materials.

R2R technology facilitates the production of rolls of photovoltaic cells in varying sizes. Additionally, the researchers proposed converting economically inefficient laboratory procedures into a scalable process suitable for large-scale devices. Central to this achievement is the substitution of gold with carbon-based inks, leading to significant reductions in production costs.

High efficiency of hybrid photovoltaic cells

According to the article titled “The first demonstration of entirely roll-to-roll fabricated perovskite solar cell modules under ambient room conditions,” the estimated cost of producing hybrid photovoltaic cells using the described method is USD 0.7/Wp, while maintaining a production rate of 1 million m²/year. Scientists highlight the potential for further optimization, which could lead to additional cost savings during production.

In exchange, these photovoltaic cells offer satisfactory efficiency. For smaller surface area products, the efficiency reached 15.5%, while for larger ones, it was 11%. The results also showcased an output current of 19.9 mA and a fill factor (FF) of 62.3%, both of which are appealing. The future will reveal whether this method of producing hybrid cells holds promise for commercialization.

Source: nature.com