Back to Basics – A Systematic Investigation of the Charge Selectivity Mechanism in Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite-based solar cells have proven to be strong candidates in solving the future energy demands. However, before they can be introduced on the market, issues related to their reproducibility and stability have to be clarified. It is particularly important to understand how the contact materials in the solar cell can be optimized to as efficiently as possible collect the generated charges, i.e. to produce a current in the device. By systematically varying these contact materials (e.g. by adjusting their chemical composition or their structure), we will determine the optimal materials with respect to the efficiency and stability of the solar cell. In order to achieve these goals, we will study the solar cell both experimentally and through simulations. The project is a collaboration between Dr. Jan-Henrik Smått’s group (Physical Chemistry) and Prof. Ronald Österbacka’s group (Physics) at Åbo Akademi University.