UK's university unveils strategy to boost solar cell performance, durability

A groundbreaking study led by the University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute has made significant strides in improving the performance and longevity of perovskite-based solar cells. 

A research team has enhanced perovskite solar cell efficiency (23 per cent PCE) and lifespan (66 per cent longer) by addressing hidden degradation pathways, advancing affordable and sustainable energy solutions, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

An international team, led by the University of Surrey in partnership with Imperial College London, has developed a strategy to improve both the performance and stability of perovskite-based solar cells, uncovering a previously unknown degradation pathway.

In a new study published in Energy and Environmental Science, Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) explains how, along with their collaborators, they successfully created lead-tin perovskite solar cells that achieve more than 23 per cent power conversion efficiency (PCE)—one of the highest results for this material. Importantly, their design strategy also extends the lifespan of these cells by 66 per cent. PCE measures the amount of sunlight a cell can convert into usable electricity.

While silicon solar panels dominate current rooftops, perovskite/silicon solar panels are emerging, with fully “all-perovskite” panels expected to be the next major advancement in the field.

For this technology to become commercially viable, scientists must address challenges in improving both stability and efficiency, particularly with the lead-tin perovskite cells used in this design. This collaborative research, initiated by the University of Surrey, identifies previously hidden mechanisms that contribute to losses in both efficiency and stability, providing valuable insights to help advance the technology.

Hashini Perera, Ph.D. student and lead author of the study from the Advanced Technology Institute at the University of Surrey, stated: “The understanding we have developed from this work has allowed us to identify a strategy that improves the efficiency and extends the operational lifetime of these devices when exposed to ambient conditions. This advancement is a major step towards high efficiency, long-lasting solar panels which will give more people access to affordable clean energy while reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and global carbon emissions.”

By Naila Huseynova