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A breakthrough in solar technology has been made by researchers at Northwestern University, where they developed a new protective coating that significantly enhances both the power conversion efficiency and lifespan of perovskite solar cells. This innovation, based on amidinium, marks a substantial leap in solar cell durability and performance.
Perovskite solar cells, known for their high efficiency and low production costs, have faced challenges with stability, especially under harsh conditions. While much research has focused on improving the perovskite material itself, this new study shifts the focus to the protective layer, where the key improvements lie. The amidinium-based coating was found to be ten times more resistant to decomposition compared to traditional ammonium-based coatings.
The researchers, led by Northwestern’s Bin Chen and Mercouri Kanatzidis, found that this new coating significantly increased the cell’s T90 lifetime—the period it takes for a perovskite solar cell to lose 90% of its initial efficiency under extreme conditions. In tests, the new guanidinium-coated cells tripled the T90 lifetime, allowing them to still retain 90% of their initial efficiency after 1,100 hours of exposure to heat and light.
The team’s innovation involves a process called amidination, where the less stable ammonium group typically used in passivation layers is replaced with the more stable amidinium group. This modification prevents the cells from degrading when exposed to high temperatures, a major issue for solar cells in real-world conditions.
“By chemically reinforcing the protective layers, we’ve significantly advanced the durability of these cells without compromising their exceptional efficiency,” said Kanatzidis, “bringing us closer to a practical, low-cost alternative to silicon-based photovoltaics.”
The new cells, which demonstrated an impressive 26.3% efficiency, hold great promise for the future of solar energy. By improving both the stability and performance of perovskite solar cells, this innovation could help make solar power more reliable and accessible.
