Issue 2, 2020

Increasing efficiency of perovskite solar cells using low concentrating photovoltaic systems

Abstract

Perovskite solar cell (PSC) technology is the flag bearer for the future of photovoltaics allowing unlimited possibilities for its application. This technology is currently limited by issues related to its scale-up, stability and the composition of the materials used in its preparation. Using small sized solar cells with higher efficiency under solar concentration is gaining traction as a methodology for scaling up this technology and broadening its applications. However, this has only been reported in devices with size <1 mm2 neglecting the series resistance of the device. Here, we report the performance of a 9 mm2 PSC at varying solar concentration levels and correlate it with the series resistance of the solar cell. The n–i–p structured device using a triple cation perovskite absorber with a mesoporous titanium oxide/SnO2 layer as the electron transporting layer and Spiro-OMeTAD as the hole transporting material achieved a peak efficiency of 21.6% under 1.78 Suns as compared to the 21% obtained under 1 Sun (1000W m−2) and AM1.5G. We further boosted the power output up to 15.88 mW under 10.7 Suns compared to the 1.88 mW obtained under 1 Sun; however this results in an actual efficiency drop of the PSC owing to the device series resistance. Further, we investigated the impact of the increasing solar cell temperature at higher concentration levels and identified the influence of series resistance on the performance of the PSC. Our work identifies the potential of concentrating photovoltaics and highlights the challenges and makes recommendations for future development.

Graphical abstract: Increasing efficiency of perovskite solar cells using low concentrating photovoltaic systems

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 jul. 2019
Accepted
17 sep. 2019
First published
18 nov. 2019
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2020,4, 528-537

Increasing efficiency of perovskite solar cells using low concentrating photovoltaic systems

H. Baig, H. Kanda, A. M. Asiri, M. K. Nazeeruddin and T. Mallick, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2020, 4, 528 DOI: 10.1039/C9SE00550A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements