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Both high efficiency and long life

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・What is Perovskite?

Perovskite is one of the crystal structures (MRX₃) formed by a ternary system. The unit cell is a cubic crystal, with M at the center of the cube, R at each vertex, and X at the center of each face. In the case of solar cells, metals (Pb, Sn, etc.) are often used for M, organic amine compounds (NH₃CH₃, etc.) for R, and halogens (I, Br, etc.) for X.

・The structure and mechanism of perovskite solar cells

The diagram above is an example of a perovskite solar cell. The solar cell in the diagram is composed of six components: an "electrode," a "hole transport layer," a "power generation layer," an "electron transport layer," a "transparent electrode," and a "transparent plate." Perovskite is used in the power generation layer.

When light is shone on the transparent plate side, it reaches the power generation layer. The light excites the electrons in the power generation layer, generating free electrons and holes. The generated free electrons and holes travel to the electrode via the electron transport layer and hole transport layer, respectively. This is the power generation mechanism of perovskite solar cells.

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・Perovskite solar cell using Li⁺@C₆₀

Li⁺@C₆₀ is expected to be used in the "hole transport layer" of perovskite solar cells. The schematic diagram of a perovskite solar cell above is an example of using Li⁺@C₆₀ in the hole transport layer. It is used by mixing a small amount of [Li⁺@C₆₀](TFSI⁻) in a salt state with Spiro-MeOTAD, which is often used as a hole transport material. By mixing [Li⁺@C₆₀](TFSI⁻), [Li⁺@C₆₀](TFSI⁻) instantly oxidizes Spiro-MeOTAD, producing Li⁺@C₆₀˙⁻ and [Spiro-MeOTAD⁺](TFSI⁻). The Li⁺@C₆₀˙⁻ produced here prevents oxygen and water, which are the weaknesses of perovskite solar cells. In addition, Spiro-MeOTAD becomes [Spiro-MeOTAD⁺](TFSI⁻), improving its performance as a hole transport material.

References

I. Jeon, et.al., J. Am. Chem. Soc ., 141 , (2019) 16553-16558.

Durability issues are solved with the technology of metal-encapsulated fullerenes. If you are interested, please contact us using the form email at the bottom of the page.

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