Newswise — Researchers on the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a prototype for absolutely scalable all-perovskite tandem solar modules. These modules have an effectivity of as much as 19.1 % with an aperture space of 12.25 sq. centimeters. This end result, the primary of its type reported worldwide, was made potential by enhancing effectivity with optimized gentle paths, high-throughput laser scribing, and using established industrial coating strategies. The researchers current their leads to the journal Nature Energy. (DOI: 10.1038/s41560-022-01059-w)
As a available and versatile energy supply, daylight performs a key function within the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources and in an impartial energy provide. Solar cells convert daylight into electrical energy. In current years, solar cells product of perovskite semiconductors have proven nice promise due to their excessive effectivity and low manufacturing prices. But the effectivity of a person perovskite cell continues to be restricted regardless of huge progress. This limitation might be overcome by stacking two solar cells with totally different band gaps. The band hole is a cloth attribute that determines the a part of the incident spectrum {that a} solar cell absorbs to generate electrical energy.
Efficiency Boost from Stacking
Tandem solar cells use a broader vary of the spectrum and generate extra electrical energy, making them extra environment friendly. Perovskite solar cells with a tunable band hole are supreme tandem companions not just for solar cells product of different supplies but additionally for all-perovskite tandem solar cells. They characteristic low-cost manufacturing, solution-based processing strategies, mechanical flexibility, and the liberty to mix cells with totally different perovskite band gaps. Researchers anticipate all-perovskite tandem solar cells to realize a excessive market share sooner or later if they’ll fulfill necessities for stability and scalability. Scalability implies that new designs might be utilized at bigger scales and in mass manufacturing.
The division headed by Tenure-Track Professor Ulrich W. Paetzold from the Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT) and the Light Technology Institute (LTI) at KIT has succeeded in growing a scalable prototype for high-efficiency all-perovskite tandem solar modules. The researchers had been capable of scale up particular person perovskite cells with an effectivity of as much as 23.5 % at an aperture space of 0.1 sq. centimeters to all-perovskite tandem solar modules with an effectivity of 19.1 % at an aperture space of 12.25 sq. centimeters. The aperture space is the usable a part of the floor that’s not coated by electrodes, frames or fasteners. At roughly 5 %, the lack of effectivity when upscaling is comparatively low. “This is the first report of an all-perovskite tandem solar module worldwide,” says Dr. Bahram Abdollahi Nejand, lead creator of the publication and crew chief for all-perovskite tandem solar modules.
Upscaling Enabled by Three Innovations
This outstanding result’s primarily based on three key improvements. The KIT researchers elevated the effectivity by optimizing the sunshine path and lowering reflections within the solar cell structure. They applied an environment friendly format for tandem solar modules utilizing high-throughput laser scribing that allows the manufacturing of useful tandem solar mini-modules with two-terminal interconnected cell strips. Lastly, they used coating processes (blade coating and vacuum deposition) which can be already established industrial follow. “Achieving this outstanding research result was only possible with the combined expertise at KIT. This will provide motivation for further work in academia and industry to make the sustainable and pioneering technology of all-perovskite tandem solar modules commercially viable through upscaling and improvements in stability,” says Paetzold. (or)
Original publication (open entry):
Bahram Abdollahi Nejand, David B. Ritzer, Hang Hu, Fabian Schackmar, Somayeh Moghadamzadeh, Thomas Feeney, Roja Singh, Felix Laufer, Raphael Schmager, Raheleh Azmi, Milian Kaiser, Tobias Abzieher, Saba Gharibzadeh, Erik Ahlswede, Uli Lemmer, Bryce S. Richards & Ulrich W. Paetzold: Scalable two-terminal all-perovskite tandem solar modules with a 19.1% effectivity. Nature Energy, 2022. DOI: 10.1038/s41560-022-01059-w
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-022-01059-w
https://www.energy.kit.edu/index.php
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