Abstract

The growing urgency of environmental and energy problems has drawn attention to fossil fuel replacing energy sources including high hopes for solar cell technology. Current installations primarily use expensive silicon-based solar cells, generating interest in inexpensive and highly stable alternatives. Over the past ten years perovskite solar cells have rapidly improved achieving a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 25% and cheaper production as high quality manufacturing has become more convenient making perovskite solar cells a strong contender for the next generation of solar cells. In terms of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, higher power generation rates and reduced costs contribute to Goal Number 7 (“Affordable and Clean Energy”) and the carbon emission impact of the technology contributes to Goal Number 13 (“Climate Action”). In this research we seek to improve the reliability and safety of perovskite solar cells through studying designs and compositions of various perovskite compounds.

Future prospects

As power generation efficiency improves, practical applications will increase for perovskite solar cells. Perovskite solar cells can be fabricated on flexible substrate and have a broad array of use cases. Issues that remain to be solved include low stability and their lead content. Overcoming these obstacles will result in a wider market for perovskite solar cells. In addition to solar cells, the photoluminescent characteristics of perovskite shows promise in optical applications.