Thursday, 30 November 2023
ICN2 achieves solar cell breakthrough with MXene-enhanced technology
The ICN2 Nanostructured Materials for Photovoltaic Energy Group, led by CSIC Research Professor Prof. Mónica Lira-Cantú, has developed a novel perovskite solar cell featuring MXene technology. This advancement demonstrates, for the first time, significant improvements in the stability of Perovskite solar cells under real outdoor operando conditions, making it a notable step in sustainable energy research.
A recent work published in Advanced Energy Materials focuses on enhancing the performance and durability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) through the use of MXenes, a class of two-dimensional nanomaterials known for their unique electrical properties. The study was led by the ICN2 Nanostructured Materials for Photovoltaic Energy Group, headed by CSIC Research Professor and Group Leader Prof. Mónica Lira-Cantú. The researchers have introduced a groundbreaking approach in solar cell technology, with first author Masoud Karimipour, a senior Postdoc in the same group.
MXenes, made from layers of carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides of transition metals, are emerging as a promising material in various technological applications due to their excellent conductivity and versatile surface chemistry. In this study, a 2D titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXene was functionalized - a process of chemical modification via the intercalation of organic additives (H3pp) within the MXene layers to improve performance - and integrated into the PSCs. This strategy modified the bulk and the interface between the halide perovskite and the hole transport layer resulted in an efficient and continuous connection between the materials, leading to an approximate 22% efficiency in champion MXene-based PSCs. This marks a significant improvement over the control device's 20.56% efficiency.
One of the most outstanding outcomes of this research is the enhanced lifespan of the PSCs when incorporating the MXene layer. Stability analyses under various conditions, including dark, continuous light irradiation, and real outdoor environments, consistently showed a marked improvement in the PSCs' lifespan. Under continuous light irradiation (ISOS-L), the MXene-modified device impressively retained almost 100% efficiency, and outdoor testing (ISOS-O) for over 600 hours revealed a T80 (time to retain 80% of original efficiency) of approximately 600 hours, compared to the control device's complete degradation.
The PSCs fabricated with the HP/MXene:H3pp heterojunction as the hole transport layer also demonstrated a slight increase in power conversion efficiency, further underscoring the positive impact of MXene nanosheets and their functionalization on the photovoltaic properties of the final device.
In summary, the research led by Prof. Mónica Lira-Cantú and her Group highlights, the potential of MXene technology in revolutionizing the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells. This innovation could be key to developing highly stable PSCs for large-scale implementation and commercial use, making it a vital contribution to the field of sustainable energy.
Reference article:
Masoud Karimipour, Ashitha Paingott Parambil, Kenedy Tabah Tanko, Tiankai Zhang, Feng Gao, Monica Lira-Cantu. Functionalized MXene/Halide Perovskite Heterojunctions for Perovskite Solar Cells Stable Under Real Outdoor Conditions. First published: 15 October 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202301959