Promising Perovskitesby Kathy Chambers 08 Nov, 2016 in David Mandrus shows a model of the perovskite crystal structure. Image Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory An exciting race is underway in the field of solar energy to develop a commercially viable material for solar cells to capture the sun’s rays and produce cheap, abundant solar energy for the planet. A class of materials called perovskites has recently emerged that researchers believe promises to be the winner in this solar energy race. According to scientists at Ames Laboratory, perovskites are, “optically active, semiconducting compounds that are known to display intriguing electronic, light-emitting and chemical properties,” with lead-halide perovskites now one of the most favorable semiconductors for solar cells because of their, “low cost, easier processability and high power conversion efficiencies.” Perovskite materials are now considered to be the future of solar cells and are playing a role in next-generation electric batteries, sensors, lasers, fuel cells, memory devices, spintronics, and other applications. Since Bell Laboratories demonstrated the first practical silicon solar cell in 1954, standard silicon solar cells have been recognized as the gold standard of... Related Topics: Perovskites Read more... |
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