System speeds up sampling rate of solar cells

The team’s machine can analyse 16 sample perovskite-based solar cells simultaneously, in parallel, which speeds up the process. The research is described in Solar RRL.

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"Third generation perovskite cells have boosted performance to above 25 per cent, which is almost identical to the efficiency level for conventional silicon-based ones," said project leader Adam Surmiak from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science (Exciton Science).

"But those results are from laboratory tests on millimetre-sized samples in indoor conditions - and therefore don't take into account a whole range of real-world factors such as environmental conditions, the use to which the cells are put, the manufacturing process, and possible deterioration over time.

"To make proper decisions, we need to know how each different cell design will function at large scales in the real world - and to do that we need a proper data library so we can pick the best candidates to take to that next stage. This new system lets us build that very rapidly and speed up transition from laboratory to fabrication."