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May 13 (UPI) – The addition of a small amount of fluoride, the same chemical added to the municipal water to prevent tooth decay, increases the stability of perovskite solar cells.
Perovskite is the cheapest solar cell material available and its efficiency has improved rapidly. Unfortunately, it is not so durable. Perovskite is rapidly degrading, affecting its long-term reliability.
Over time, perovskite solar panels are significantly less efficient in converting sunlight into energy. The economic benefits of affordability of the material erode quickly.
Researchers from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands discovered that they could solve the perovskite fragility problem by adding a little fluoride during the production process. They described their work this week in the journal Nature Energy.
Just as the chemical helps protect tooth enamel, scientists found that fluoride ions formed a protective layer around the perovskite crystal, preventing the damaging effects of light, heat and moisture.
"Our work has dramatically improved the stability of perovskite solar cells," said Shuxia Tao, an assistant professor at the Computer Research Center of the Eindhoven University of Technology. "Our cells retain 90% of their effectiveness after 1,000 hours of work under extreme light and heat conditions, and are much longer than traditional perovskite compounds, achieving an efficiency of 21.3%, which is very good starting point for new efficiencies. "
Fluoride has favored the formation of strong hydrogen and ionic bonds on the surface of the perovskite network. Simulations have shown that the electronegativity of fluoride ions is responsible for its ability to form strong bonds with neighboring elements.
Scientists plan to further refine their process of adding fluoride to the perovskite solar cell manufacturing process. Their goal is to create perovskite solar cells enriched in fluoride that retain 85% of their initial effectiveness after ten to fifteen years.
"We expect these cells to become a commercially viable product in five to ten years, not only to improve their efficiency and stability, but also to gain a better theoretical understanding of the relevant mechanisms at the atomic level." Tao. "We still do not know why some materials are more effective than others in increasing the long-term stability of these cells."
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