Integrated memristor for mitigating reverse-bias in perovskite solar cells

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Device Physics

Background:

• Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer high efficiency and low-cost fabrication, positioning them as a promising future photovoltaic technology.
• A critical challenge for PSCs is their instability under reverse bias, often encountered during real-world operation due to partial shading or series connections.
• Existing solutions focus on device architecture modifications to improve breakdown voltage and mitigate reverse bias effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel solar cell concept, Memsol, that completely resolves the reverse-bias issue in perovskite solar cells.
• To develop an integrated memristor within the solar cell that functions as both a protective element and a bypass.

Main Methods:

• Developed a Memsol concept by area-selectively depositing an additional metal-insulator stack to create an integrated memristor.
• The memristor shares the perovskite layer and electrodes with the solar cell component.
• Conducted reverse-bias and shading tests on the Memsol device and a nine-cell string.

Main Results:

• The Memsol demonstrated stability under reverse-bias and shading conditions.
• The integrated memristor automatically toggled between a low-resistance bypass state and full-efficiency solar cell operation based on illumination and bias.
• The Memsol concept was successfully demonstrated on a lab-scale nine-cell string.

Conclusions:

• The Memsol concept offers a new approach to overcome the reverse-bias instability in perovskite solar cells.
• This integrated solution has the potential to accelerate the commercialization of PSCs by enhancing module reliability.
• The Memsol may eliminate the need for external bypass diodes in large-scale perovskite solar module applications.