Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2025
11:38
Influence of Hybrid Perovskite Fabrication Methods on Film Formation, Electronic Structure, and Solar Cell Performance
Published on: February 27, 2017
18.6K
Direct Integration of Perovskite Solar Cells with Carbon Fiber Substrates.
Onkar S Game1, Timothy Thornber1, Fernando Cepero-Mejías2
1Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield, S3 7RH, UK.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|March 31, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed strong, power-generating materials by integrating perovskite solar cells onto carbon-fiber composites. These lightweight, flexible solar cells offer high specific power for automotive and aeronautical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy Engineering
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) offer high mechanical strength.
- Integrating energy-harvesting capabilities, such as photovoltaic devices, onto CFRPs can create advanced structural materials.
- Applications in automotive and aeronautical sectors require lightweight, power-generating structural components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the fabrication of perovskite solar cells on CFRP substrates.
- To develop structurally integrated, energy-harvesting materials.
- To assess the performance and suitability of these devices for mobile power applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of triple-cation perovskite n-i-p solar cells on planarized CFRP substrates.
- Utilized a transparent top indium tin oxide (ITO) contact.
- Incorporated a "wrinkled" silicon dioxide (SiO2) interlayer to prevent ITO cracking.
Main Results:
- Achieved a maximum stabilized power conversion efficiency of 14.5%.
- Demonstrated a high specific power of 21.4 W/g (unencapsulated).
- The SiO2 interlayer effectively alleviated thermally induced cracking of the bottom ITO layer.
Conclusions:
- Successfully integrated perovskite solar cells onto CFRP substrates, creating lightweight, power-generating materials.
- The developed devices exhibit promising efficiency and specific power for structural energy-harvesting.
- These materials are suitable for automotive and aeronautical applications demanding mobile power solutions.
