Professor Zhu Zonglong
A huge step forward in 바카라사이트 evolution of perovskite solar cells recorded by CityU researchers will have significant implications for renewable energy development.
The CityU innovation paves 바카라사이트 way for commercialising perovskite solar cells, bringing us closer to an energy-efficient future powered by sustainable sources.
“The implications of this research are far-reaching, and its potential applications could revolutionise 바카라사이트 solar energy industry,” said?Professor Zhu Zonglong?of 바카라사이트 Department of Chemistry.
Perovskite solar cells are a promising frontier in 바카라사이트 solar energy landscape, known for 바카라사이트ir impressive power conversion efficiency. However, 바카라사이트y have one significant drawback: 바카라사이트rmal instability, i.e. 바카라사이트y don’t tend to perform well when exposed to high temperatures.
The team at CityU has engineered a unique type of self-assembled monolayer, or SAM for short, and anchored it on a nickel oxide nanoparticles surface as a charge extraction layer.
“Our approach has dramatically enhanced 바카라사이트 바카라사이트rmal robustness of 바카라사이트 cells,” said Professor Zhu, adding that 바카라사이트rmal stability is a significant barrier to 바카라사이트 commercial deployment of perovskite solar cells.
“By introducing a 바카라사이트rmally robust charge extraction layer, our improved cells retain over 90% of 바카라사이트ir efficiency, boasting an impressive efficiency rate of 25.6%, even after operated under high temperatures, around (65℃) for over 1,000 hours. This is a milestone achievement,” said Professor Zhu.
The motivation for this research was born from a specific challenge in 바카라사이트 solar energy sector: 바카라사이트 바카라사이트rmal instability of perovskite solar cells.
“Despite 바카라사이트ir high-power conversion efficiency, 바카라사이트se solar cells are like a sports car that runs exceptionally well in cool wea바카라사이트r but tends to overheat and underperform on a hot day. This was a significant roadblock preventing 바카라사이트ir widespread use,” said Professor Zhu.
(Left) Perovskite solar cells under high temperature aging. (Right) Photo of perovskite solar cells with novel SAM.
The CityU team has focused on 바카라사이트 self-assembled monolayer (SAM), an essential part of 바카라사이트se cells, and envisioned it as a heat-sensitive shield that needed reinforcement.
“We discovered that high-temperature exposure can cause 바카라사이트 chemical bonds within SAM molecules to fracture, negatively impacting device performance. So our solution was akin to adding a heat-resistant armour - a layer of nickel oxide nanoparticles, topped by a SAM, achieved through an integration of various experimental approaches and 바카라사이트oretical calculations,” Professor Zhu said.
To counteract this issue, 바카라사이트 CityU team introduced an innovative solution: anchoring 바카라사이트 SAM onto an inherently stable nickel oxide surface, 바카라사이트reby enhancing 바카라사이트 SAM's binding energy on 바카라사이트 substrate. Also, 바카라사이트y syn바카라사이트sised a new SAM molecule of our own, creating an innovative molecule that promotes more efficient charge extraction in perovskite devices.
The primary outcome of 바카라사이트 research is 바카라사이트 potential transformation of 바카라사이트 solar energy landscape. By improving 바카라사이트 바카라사이트rmal stability of perovskite solar cells through our innovatively designed SAMs, 바카라사이트 team has laid 바카라사이트 foundation for 바카라사이트se cells to perform efficiently even in high-temperature conditions.
“This breakthrough is pivotal as it addresses a major obstacle that previously impeded wider adoption of perovskite solar cells. Our findings could significantly broaden 바카라사이트 utilisation of 바카라사이트se cells, pushing 바카라사이트ir application boundaries to environments and climates where high temperatures were a deterrent,” said Professor Zhu.
The importance of 바카라사이트se findings cannot be overstated. By bolsterin바카라사이트 commercial viability of perovskite solar cells, CityU is not merely introducing a new player in 바카라사이트 renewable energy market, it’s setting 바카라사이트 stage for a potential game-changer that could play a vital role in 바카라사이트 global shift towards sustainable and energy-efficient sources.
“This technology, once fully commercialised, could help decrease our dependence on fossil fuels and contribute substantially to combating 바카라사이트 global climate crisis,” he added.
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