Perovskite

The Perovskite project of ITER’s photovoltaics department is a line of research, development and innovation that aims to develop high-efficiency, low-cost photovoltaic cells using organic-inorganic hybrid materials as the active (light-capturing) layer.

This technology, which has evolved rapidly over the past decade, having achieved record-breaking efficiency levels in laboratory conditions of over 20%, is particularly attractive because of the relative simplicity of the processes involved in developing it. These consist in arranging its constituent elements in the form of thin layers on transparent substrates, which reduces the cost of both the materials and the manufacturing processes.

The aims of the project are centred around improving the technology with a view to harnessing its commercial applications. To this end, the project will focus on three areas:

  • Improving the synthesis of the structures of the deposited layers, to ensure greater photovoltaic cell efficiency by reducing light-capturing and electrical losses.
  • Research into the methods of layer deposition related to the structure of the photovoltaic device itself.
  • Assessment of the performance of such structures over time and in response to their exposure to the environment.

Research results from this project were accepted for publication at different forums and publications. The following contributions are listed in chronological order:

  • A one-step deposition method assisted with non polar washing solvent treatment for producing uniform thin layers of perovskite validated through ellipsometry. This paper summarizes the methodology developed by the ITER solar cell laboratory (SiCelLab), which has been validated by the use of spectral ellipsometric characterization, in order to avaluate the optical properties and thikness of thin films of methylammoniun lead iodide (CH3NH3PBI3), deposited from solutions of its chemical precursors, via spin coating on glass substrates by the one-stage method, assisted with non polar solvent washing treatment. [Local] [EUPVSEC]
  • Optimizing the deposition of thin layers of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) on large surfaces through their optical properties. The present paper proposes a method for optimizing the deposition of thin layers of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) on large surfaces (up to 75 mm x 75 mm) via spin coating procedures. [Local] [EUPVSEC]
  • I Jornadas de Investigación en “Ingeniería industrial, informática y medioambiental” en la Universidad de La Laguna. 22 April 2016. Produce perovskite-based photovoltaic cells in cleanroom environment. Link.
  • Adaptation of a crystalline silicon solar cell laboratory to produce perovskite solar devices. This paper explains the adaptations made to the photovoltaics laboratory, which was originally designed for researching crystalline silicon cells, for this research. [Local] [EUPVSEC]