Scientists have developed silicon-free and longer-lasting solar panels using perovskite cells. In the study, led by a research team from the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, assistant professor Juan Pablo Correa-Baena and his team investigated perovskite crystals as a new material that could replace silicon. Perovskite has emerged as a promising alternative, composed of iodine atoms, lead and organic elements, with similar performance to silicon. However, the main disadvantage of perovskite cells is that their lifespan is much shorter than silicon cells; perovskite cells degrade within a year of use, while silicon cells can last up to twenty years.
To solve this problem, Correa-Baena’s lab has developed a new technology that stabilizes perovskite solar cells. In this new structure, the perovskite layer is placed between the positive and negative electrodes, and before the positive electrode is added, the perovskite is exposed to titanium gas in a mild vacuum. This process is called vapor phase infiltration and incorporates titanium into the top layer of the solar cell. The researchers found that by adding titanium, the cells become more resistant to high temperatures and can avoid the degradation process. By increasing the durability of perovskite cells, this technology has the potential to transform the solar industry, contributing to the goal of accelerating the use of renewable energy in the US.