A new type of solar power technology based on a material called perovskites promises more efficient, cheaper, easier to make, lightweight, and perhaps even flexible solar panels. While silicon is today’s best technology, perovskite solar cells have an efficiency edge, are more abundant materials, easy to make on large scale and could be more easily recyclable. Current perovskite photovoltaics degrade under humidity and heat so perovskite solar cells able to heal themselves are needed. A new special healing agent has chemical bonds that break and recover under heat and moisture. This material has been integrated into the perovskite layer so that when exposed to usually detrimental environmental stressors, it recovers and maintains its performance. The resulting solar cells had over 25% power conversion efficiency and stayed stable through 1,000 hours of accelerated aging tests at 85°C and simulated solar illumination.
www.monash.edu/engineering/about/news/articles/2024/self-healing-solar-cells-could-become-reality