Estimating how perovskite solar films effectively transform light to electricity

Electrons generated when light strikes the film are unrestricted by grain boundaries – the edges of crystalline subunits within the film and travel long distances without diminishing the scientists showed. This implies electric charge carriers that become trapped and decay in other substances are instead available to be drawn off as current.

The researchers directly estimated the distance travelled, known as diffusion length for the first time by employing the technique known as ‘spatially scanned photocurrent imaging microscopy.’ Diffusion length within a well-planned perovskite film estimated up to 20 micrometers. The findings indicate that solar cells could be prepared much thicker without harming their efficacy, says Xuan Gao, an associate lecturer of physics and author of the paper. “A thicker cell can absorb lighter,” he says, “potentially yielding a better solar cell.”

Solar power scientists believe films hold great promise. In less than five years, films prepared with the crystalline structure have surpassed 20 percent efficacy in transforming sunlight to electricity, a mark that took years to reach with the silicon-based solar cells employed today.

In this study, the Gao’s lab performed spatially scanned photocurrent image estimates on films made in the lab of Case Western Reserve chemistry lecturer Clemens Burda.

Perovskite minerals identified in natures are oxides of certain metals, but Burda’s lab prepared organo-metallic layers with the same crystalline structure employing methyl ammonium lead tri-iodide, a three dimensional lead halide encompassed by small organic methyl ammonium molecules that hold the structure of lattice together.

“The query has been how such solar cells are so effective? If we would know, we could further enhance perovskite solar cells,” says Burda. “People consider it could be due to unusually lengthy electron transport and we directly estimate it.”

perovskite solar films convert light to power

The length of diffusion is the distance an electron or its opposite, known as a hole, travels from generation until it recombines or is extracted as electrical current. The distance is the same as transport length when no electronic field is applied. The labs made recurrent measurements by focusing a small laser spot on films 8 millimetres square by 300 nanometers thick. The films wre made stable by layering the perovskite with a coating of the polymer parylene.

The light release holes and electrons and the photocurrent, or stream of electrons is recorded between the electrodes positioned about 120 microns away from each other while the entire film is scanned along two perpendicular directions.

The estimations revealed diffusion length averaged about 10 microns. In some situations, the length reached 20 microns, showing the functional area of the film is at least 20 microns long, confirms the researchers. Gao and Burda are now seeking federal funds to employ the microscopy method to determine whether distinct grain sizes, halide perovskite compositions and more change the film’s properties, to further enhance research in the domain