A recent article in the Journal of Materials Chemistry C highlights a novel strategy developed by Brazilian researchers to improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells, offering promising advancements for the solar power sector. Spearheaded by researchers at São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Bauru, Brazil, the study introduces the utilization of MXenes—a family of two-dimensional materials with exceptional properties—to enhance the performance of perovskite solar cells.
The method involves incorporating MXene Ti3C2Tx into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to create a passivation coating, which is then applied atop the perovskite layer of inverted solar cells. Passivation coatings play a crucial role in mitigating defects in polycrystalline solids, such as perovskite, thereby enhancing the cells’ stability and efficiency.
Perovskite solar cells, known for their layered structure, require precise architecture to optimize performance. In the case of inverted solar cells, the device’s architecture is reversed to maximize optical transparency and sunlight absorption by the perovskite layer.
The inclusion of Ti3C2Tx resulted in a notable increase in the cells’ power conversion efficiency, elevating it from 19% to 22%. Moreover, the stability of the cells was significantly enhanced, exhibiting three times longer lifespan without performance degradation compared to control cells lacking the passivation layer.
Lead author João Pedro Ferreira Assunção, a master’s candidate at UNESP, expressed surprise at the project’s outcomes, originally aimed at addressing the performance decline associated with the addition of an insulating passivation layer. The study underscores the feasibility of incorporating MXene into mass production processes and provides valuable insights into the electrical, morphological, and structural characteristics of perovskite solar cells.
With a focus on advancing large-scale industrial production systems for stable, high-performance solar cells, the research contributes to Brazil’s objectives of promoting clean energy production, reducing environmental impact, and establishing itself as a leading industrial producer in the solar energy sector.
