A research group led by Professor Shinsaburo Ito of Kyoto University analyzed the power generation mechanism using a solar cell made of a substance called perovskite.As a result, it has become possible to develop a battery that combines the advantages of two types of solar cells.

 Solar cells are roughly divided into inorganic solar cells and organic thin-film solar cells.The former has high power generation efficiency, but it costs a lot to process boards made of inorganic materials such as silicon.On the other hand, organic thin-film solar cells are inferior in power generation efficiency, but have the advantage that they can be made simply by dissolving the material in ink and applying it.Perovskite is attracting attention as a material that has both of these merits.Perovskite is a general term for inorganic substances with a special crystal structure.Although it is an inorganic substance, it can be treated like ink by dissolving it in an organic solvent, so it is expected that it will be possible to achieve both high power generation efficiency and low cost.

 In this research, we analyzed the power generation mechanism using a solar cell made from perovskite.As a result, it was found that there is no energy loss in the process of converting the absorbed light into an electric current.From this, high efficiency can be expected.On the other hand, when carefully observing the flow of electrons, which is the source of the electric current, it was found that the electrons that flowed out due to the phenomenon of recombination were stranded.

 I was able to obtain the guidelines for improving efficiency obtained in this way.If recombination can be completely suppressed, the power generation efficiency can be expected to reach 25%, which is about the same as that of inorganic solar cells.This shows the way to the realization of high-efficiency and low-cost solar cells.

Kyoto University

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With the motto of self-study, we will continue to maintain a free academic style that is not bound by common sense, and develop human resources who have both creativity and practical ability.We provide an inclusive learning space that allows for diverse and hierarchical choices so that students themselves can choose a solid future through valuable trial and error. […]

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