The performance of perovskites, a new material for solar cells, has been rumored for the last couple of months. Yet, in any case they have enormous issues with regards to applicatio. First off, the best perovskites hold lead, which is very lethal. Presently, two autonomous groups of researchers submitted their research report stating the making of solar cells using lead-free perovskites.
However, the new lead-free devices convert just about 6% of the solar power to consumable energy, which is less than 1/3 the energy produced by the lead-containing solar cells. The researchers believe strongly that even the lead-free cells will improve and become as efficient as the lead containing versions.
Perovskites are crystalline minerals that have been known for a century; however, their potential to convert sunlight to consumable energy was revealed to the world in the year 2009. From that point forward, the proficiency of perovskite based solar cells has moved from 3.8% to 19.3%, a pace of change unmatched by any other technology for solar energy systems. Similarly, the solar cells based on crystalline silicon, another technological upgrade, convert about 25% of sunlight to consumable energy.
Yet, lead is considered as the perovskite killer, since the lead is a mineral that easily dissolves in water and even in humid air, leading to lead dripping on to the roof-tops of the homeowners having lead solar panels.
The solution to this problem lies in the new research reports that make use of a complex crystalline structures made up of tin, instead of lead. Two separate sources, first an article posted in Nature Photonics by Robert Chang (material scientist at Northwestern University in Evanston) and a paper posted in Energy & Environmental Science by Henry Snaith (physicist at Oxford University), report maximum efficiency of 5.73% and 6.4% respectively for the tin perovskite solar cells.
According to Mr. Yang (materials scientist at the University of California) “Both are phenomenal work,” however for them to gain their desired commercial status, the perovskite solar cells will have to be safe, cheap, fit for being fabricated in huge panels and durable. So, the area needs more research investments so as to bring about high-efficiency, low-cost and environmentally amiable cutting edge lead-free solar cells.
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