• Project ID: 8 SEE
• Project Director: Dr. Ioana Pintilie
• Project Program: EEA-JRP-RO-NO-2013-1
• Funded by: Ministry of National Education-Research Department
• Contractor: National Institute of Materials Physics
• Start Date: July, 2014
• End Date: April, 2017

Project Abstract

The main objective of the project is to develop perovskite-based photovoltaic devices towards “all perovskite” solar cells with power conversion efficiencies approaching 20% and fabricated with affordable, environmental friendly materials and technologies (low cost printing like methods). The final goal is to have an efficient structure with transparent electrodes on both sides, able to collect not only the sun-light but also the light coming from the artificial sources used, especially during the winter, inside office buildings or large malls.. Other preparation methods (e.g. sputtering, vapour deposition or laser ablation) will be used to prepare samples for investigating the physical properties in relation with the structural, electrical and optical quality. The feedback will be used to improve the deposition methods and the structure architecture. Also, the experimental results will be used as inputs in theoretical models allowing predictions for further enhancement of the PCE. The consortium is composed by 6 partners: 3 from Romania (NIMP as coordinator, UB- Faculty of Physics and OTOELECTRONICA-S.A. as end-user); 2 universities from Iceland (UI and RU), and 1 university from Norway (UiO).

Project Objectives

The general objective of the project is to develop perovskite-based photovoltaic devices towards “all perovskite” solar cells with power conversion efficiencies approaching 20% and fabricated with affordable, environmental friendly materials and technologies.

The specific objectives of the project along with the foreseen scientific and technical achievements are:

1. Understand the mechanisms behind the high efficiency obtained using a hybrid perovskite visible-light absorber between the nowadays “standard” electron and hole transporters (TiO2 and spiro-OMeTAD); The goal is to understand the physical phenomena promoting the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency and to identify the most important mechanisms controlling the PCE. Here, an important role is played by theory and modelling.
2. Increase the PCE by using oxide perovskites with ferroelectric properties. Eventually, this could lead to enhanced PCE, potentially over 20%. Similar characterization and theoretical studies, as described for the first objective will be conducted as well on the new structures. Thus, a proof of concept is the main outcome expected to arise from this task. Further studies regarding the effect of the structural quality of the layers, tuned from epitaxial to polycrystalline and nanopowders, on the entire performance of the solar cell structure are critical for developing low costs applications and they will be performed as well. The main outcome of this research is to find the best compromise for large-scale photovoltaics.
3. Develop flexible solar cells with perovskite absorber by replacing the ITO/FTO transparent electrode with metallic nanowebs;