Photovoltaics (PVs) framework, the last decade has been facing a revolution with the advance of a breakthrough technology which can radically transform the energy sector: hybrid perovskite (HP) solar cells. HP have been skyrocketing in terms of conversion efficiency, nowadays beyond 25%, approaching those of crystalline Si cells [1]. As opposed to Si, HP solar cells are processed with low-temperature and low-cost solutionprocesses and less technologically intensive methods [2]. However, presently, the technology is still not mature for industrialization. Silicon cells last 25 years, while HPs cells have yet to be sufficiently proven under such environmental stressors as moisture and heat. Many strategies, as the surface passivation with low dimensional perovskite I presented are now revolutionizing this intensely investigated field, making perovskite durable. [3]

In this talk, Grancini discussed the enormous potential of this class of materials used in advanced solar cells, presenting the current strategies to bring HPs cells an active player in the near future PV scene. In particular, engineering low dimensional HPs is nowadays a popular way for efficient and stable devices [4]. Used in combination with standard HPs, such class of materials can offer a stability boost acting as a sheath to physically protect the HP underneath. [3] The judicious choice of the material constituents is decisive to control the device interfaces and improve the device efficiency, bringing to pin solar cells with record PCE of 23.7% [4].

References
[1] http://www.nrel.gov/ncpv/images/efficiency_chart.jpg.
[2] A. Sutanto et al. Chem 7, 1903-1916 (2021)
[3] G. Grancini & M. K. Nazeeruddin, Nat. Rev. Mater. 4, 4–22(2019)
[4] M. Degani et al. Science Advances 7 (2021)

Acknowledgment
I acknowledge the “HY-NANO” project that has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant 2018 under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 802862)

Giulia Grancini

University of Pavia

Appearances