Perovskitas

The University of Beijing has just presented the most forceful advance of Perovskita cells in terms of durability, so far the greatest weak point of technology that promises to conquer solar panels. The news. A team of researchers has designed a Perovskita cell with a 24%efficiency, similar to that of the best silicon solar panels, than maintains 99% of its performance after 1,100 hours of operation at extreme temperatures. The context. Perovskita cells are The most promising technology to generate solar energy at low cost. Perovskitas have a crystalline structure that absorbs sunlight in a very efficient waybut unlike silicon cells, they can be manufactured through simple processes, with cheaper materials, and in flexible films. There are already commercial solar panels of Perovskita and have begun to be installed on a large scale, especially in complicated lands of Chinabut their least stability and durability prevents them from competing with silicon in other facilities, even when they are manufactured in tandem with the semiconductor to improve their performance. The problem. One of the key components of Perovskita cells, the formamidinium and lead iodide (FAPBI₃), is difficult to stabilize at room temperature and tend to degrade when it is exposed to sunlight for long periods. Which, for a solar panel, is … inopportune. FAPBI₃ degradation causes Perovskita solar cells to lose efficiency rapidly (they convert less amount of light into electricity) and are not viable to compete with silicon panels, which last 30 years. The solution. To overcome this obstacle, a laboratory from the University of Beijing has invented A new “intercalation-decalation” technique of iodinewhich consists of inserting iodine atoms into the structure of the FAPBI₃ to help better organize its components, and then eliminate the excess iodine during the heating process. The key is to facilitate the formation of lead and iodine blocks, whose atoms are joined by sharing corners in the structure of Perovskita. By favoring this configuration, the mobility of the ions is reduced that, otherwise, would contribute to the degradation of the material over time. Iodine acts as a stabilizer that improves the internal cohesion of the cell. The results. This method allowed researchers to obtain a high quality Perovskita movie, without waste that may compromise their performance. The cells that developed have an energy conversion efficiency of 24%: almost a quarter of the solar energy that affects them is transformed into electricity. But the most important thing is that they maintained 99% of their initial performance after operating for more than 1,100 hours at about 85 ° C, which is a very encouraging indicative of its durability and potential long -term use. As for lead. Lead concerns its toxicity, but today it is an essential component in the Perovskita formula: it contributes significantly to its ability to absorb light and turn it into electricity, so that commercially viable cells contain lead. However, solutions are also being investigated To eliminate it. Goodbye to defects. In addition to the one at hand, other laboratories are explored complementary solutions to eliminate defects, such as the integration of molybdenum disulfide layers (MOS₂) In the structure of the cells, which act as physical and chemical barriers, blocking the migration of those defective ions that can deteriorate performance. Both the technique of iodine and that of the MOS₂ point to the same: achieve a pure and stable perovskita that can work optimally and lasting. And convert the “great promise” of solar panels into a commercial reality. Image | Huansun In Xataka | In 2009, Perovskita’s solar panels wasted 97% of energy. Now they are ready to conquer the industry