Effect of perovskite dimensionality on charge carrier recombination in solar cells

• Grant number: 23/05797-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: André Sarto Polo
• Grantee: Bárbara Scola Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/04537-6 - Aromatic Spacer Cations in Hybrid 2D/3D Perovskite Solar Cells: Impact on Stability and Performance, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are an emerging photovoltaic technology that is considered a viable option to replace available commercial technologies due to their high efficiency and low cost. However, low durability is one of the main limitations of their photovoltaic application. Perovskites are prone to hydrolysis when exposed to moisture, leading to efficiency loss. Various alternatives have been investigated to overcome this problem, including using different dimensionalities of perovskite (2D/3D). 2D perovskites are formed on the 3D layer by adding organic spacer cations. Those cations are hydrophobic, but their insulating nature decreases the efficiency of PSCs mostly due to charge carrier recombination. To improve the performance of PSCs, it is necessary to understand the charge carrier recombination pathways in these devices. In this project, various techniques will be used to investigate loss mechanisms and understand the charge carrier recombination in 2D/3D perovskite solar cells. For that, the spacer cations will be systematically varied to establish a correlation with the efficiency of solar light conversion and develop strategies to promote improvements in material composition. (AU)