Perovskite solar cells have new potential thanks to materials study

Perovskite solar cells can be cheaper and easier to produce compared to silicon solar cells, but they lack long-term stability, and this has hindered their progress. The most-studied perovskites for solar applications comprise a negatively charged lead-halide inorganic skeleton, partnered with positively charged organic cations, such as methylammonium (MA) or formamidinium (FA). These combine in a highly regular atomic arrangement.

The lead halide component is mainly responsible for interacting with light, while the organic component provides structural stability, but both are relatively unstable, which has restricted their commercial development.

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Now, Udo Schwingenschlögl from the KAUST Solar Centre, and his Ph.D. student, Aleksandra Oranskaia have used computational modelling examined the organic component of solar perovskite materials, looking for ways to improve the stability of FA-lead halide perovskites. Their results are published in Advanced Energy Materials.

“Our motivation was to apply new computational methods to one of the hottest problems in the field of perovskite solar cells,” Oranskaia said in a statement.