Researchers improve perovskite solar cell efficiency using liquid crystallization method

Researchers from the University of California San Diego, Princeton University, and Sungkyunkwan University have developed a new method to enhance the efficiency and durability of perovskite solar cells and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

By introducing additives—specifically zinc bromide and methylammonium chloride—into the solution, the team created a temporary liquid phase known as a eutectic during the crystallization process. This liquid surrounds growing crystal boundaries, allowing for the growth of larger, more uniform crystals with fewer defects at the grain boundaries. Reducing these defects is critical for preventing energy loss, especially when scaling up production for larger solar panels.

Using this technique, the resulting perovskite devices achieved efficiencies between 24% and 26%. Additionally, the solar cells demonstrated stability by retaining most of their initial efficiency after eight weeks of continuous operation under simulated sunlight. Perovskites offer a potentially lower-cost and less energy-intensive alternative to conventional silicon solar cells because they can be processed from liquid solutions and deposited as thin films.