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OVERCOMING DEFECTS IN SOUND WAVES HARNESSED
PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS ON SURFACE OF MICROCHIP
Perovskite solar cells are known for their The methodology involved fabrication of Scientists at the University of Sydney have, for The material is considered as a soft glass. This
unique crystal structures and their suitability solar cell devices in medium (0.25 square the first time, used lasers to produce, control means that unlike many materials it operates
for photovoltaic technologies, which convert centimetres) and large (1 square centimetre) and detect high-frequency sound on the as a guide for the high-frequency sound waves
light into electricity, but they have been prone sizes that exhibited low photovoltaic loss surface of a microchip. and lets them more freely interact with the light
to defects. across a broad range of band gaps while waves we put into the chip.”
The design of the chip incorporates a special
at the same time maintaining high voltage
Now, researchers at the Hong Kong University glass made from a combination of germanium, Lead Author Govert Neijts, a student from the
output. Surprisingly the devices achieved open-
of Science and Technology have applied arsenic and selenide, that is GeAsSe, which University of Twente in the Netherlands, who
circuit voltages beyond 90 per cent of the
passivation techniques, which help reduce enabled the obtaining of some remarkable spent nine months at the University of Sydney
thermodynamic limit, placing them among the
defects in materials, in order to improve results including measurements that indicated laboratories, adds:
best in the field when benchmarked against
the efficiency of perovskite solar cells. Such strong interactions between light and sound.
some 1,700 data sets obtained from existing “ Typically surface acoustic waves are ‘excited’
technologies have, until now, had a limited
literature. With the aid of a technique known as stimulated using electronics. Here we use photonics, or
effect on enhancing long-term stability, but
Brillouin scattering, which is created by an light energy, to produce the sound wave. This
the team has made a breakthrough through The study also highlighted the exceptional
enhanced feedback loop between photons approach has multiple advantages, chief of
the application of amino-silane molecular operational stability of amino-silane passivated
(light) and phonons (sound), light is enabled to which is that light does not produce the heat in
technology to the passivation of perovskite solar cells, with these cells maintaining high
move around the chip creating sound vibrations the chip that electronic excitation causes.”
cells. maximum power point efficiency and power
as it does so. The feedback process allows light
conversion efficiency even after 1,500 hours of
The team identified the types of amines - waves, produced by lasers, to ‘couple’ with the
ageing, with the best achieving a champion
primary, secondary and tertiary -and the sound waves so as to enhance the power of the
maximum power point of 19.4 per cent and
combinations of them that could improve feedback effect.
a champion power conversion efficiency of
the surfaces of perovskite films where defects
20.1 per cent. This was under the International Anticipated future applications of stimulated
typically form. This involved both ‘ex-situ’
Summit on Organic Solar Cells (ISOS)- L-3 Brillouin scattering include 5G/6G and
(outside the operational environment) and
protocol, a standardised testing procedure. broadband networks, sensors, satellite
‘in-situ’ (within the operational environment)
communication, radar systems, defence
techniques to observe the interactions between Assistant Professor Lin Yeng-Hung from the
systems and radio astronomy.
the molecules and perovskites. HKUST Department of Electronic and Computer
Engineering says: Senior Author and Project Lead, Dr. Moritz
The result was a significant increase in the
Merklein of the University of Sydney Nano
photoluminescence quantum yield, or PLQY, “ This treatment is similar to the
Institute and School of Physics explains:
indicating fewer defects and improved material hexamethyldisalazane priming process widely
quality. This is notably important for the creation used in the semiconductor industry. Such “ The use of sound waves on the surface of a
of so-called tandem solar cells, which combine similarity suggests that our new method can microchip has application in sensing, signal Reference: ‘Earthquake on a Chip: Scientists harness Sound Waves
multiple layers of photoactive materials in order easily be integrated into existing manufacturing processing and advanced communication on the Surface of a Microchip”, University of Sydney, 23rd. October.
to absorb different parts of the solar spectrum processes, making it commercially viable and technology. We can now start to think about The Institution thanks the University of Sydney for this submission.
and thereby maximise efficiency. ready for large-scale application.” new designs for chips that use light and sound
instead of electricity.
Reference: West, P., ‘Boosting Solar Cell Efficiency and Durability’,
Electronic Specifier, 1st. October.
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