This new passivator, a type of corrosion inhibitor, utilizes dynamic covalent bonds that activate when exposed to moisture and heat, allowing it to generate new passivators in response to environmental conditions. This capability enables real-time repair and maintenance of perovskite solar cells, similar to sustained-release capsules in pharmaceuticals that continuously release chemicals to heal defects caused by environmental stressors.
The team's research was published in the journal Nature under the title "Water- and heat-activated dynamic passivation for perovskite photovoltaics".
The project is led by Professor Feng Shien-ping, from the Department of Systems Engineering and Associate Dean in the College of Engineering at CityUHK, in collaboration with Professor Henry J. Snaith at the University of Oxford and Professor Angus Yip Hin-lap, Associate Director of the Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy at CityUHK.
Perovskite solar cells are renowned for their efficiency in converting sunlight into electricity, positioning them as a promising candidate for next-generation solar panels. However, their long-term storage and operational stability remain concerns. Various passivation strategies have been developed to enhance their performance and reliability, but addressing new defects caused by exposure to water and heat over time remains a challenge.
The CityUHK-led team's extensive experiments have demonstrated that their passivator significantly improves the performance and durability of perovskite solar cells. They have achieved a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of over 25% and maintained operational stability for more than 1,000 hours under high temperatures and humid conditions.
"Applying a living passivator on the perovskite surfaces enhances their resistance to environmental factors like moisture and heat. This improves the stability of perovskite solar cells in hot and humid conditions, introducing a dynamic, responsive approach to environmental stressors," explained Dr. Wang Weiting, the first author of the study and a Research Associate on Professor Feng's team.
Professor Feng highlighted that the inspiration for this technology came from observing how plants and other living organisms remain resilient to varying weather conditions, unlike perovskite solar cells which can degrade within months.
"The key difference lies in the ability of living organisms to regenerate and heal evolving defects. By incorporating a passivation mechanism that dynamically heals during operation, we can potentially unlock this regenerative concept for perovskite or other electronic devices," said Professor Feng.
CityUHK is working with industry partners to apply this technology to address ionic migration and instability in perovskite solar cells during manufacturing and operation stages. The team believes that enhancing the stability and reliability of these solar cells could make them more commercially viable. This technology also holds potential for other applications, such as anti-oxidation and interfacial contact engineering in microelectronic devices.
Research Report:Water- and heat-activated dynamic passivation for perovskite photovoltaics
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