Inside the University of Queensland’s world-record ‘eco-friendly’ tin halide perovskite solar cell

The University has introduced a technology known as “eco-friendly perovskite,” featuring a 2D/3D heterojunction architecture that helps in regulating crystallization and preventing defect formation to create high-quality THP thin films. Led by Professor Lianzhou Wang, a team of researchers from the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the School of Chemical Engineering achieved a certified record efficiency.

Dr. Peng Chang, a research fellow at the University of Queensland and a member of the record-setting team, stated that the technology was inspired by research on lead-based solutions. The team transitioned to lead-free technologies, replacing lead with tin, to create the THP technology due to concerns about commercializing lead-based materials.

THP solar cells offer various advantages over traditional solar cells, such as cost competitiveness, environmental friendliness by replacing toxic lead with tin, and possessing desirable optoelectronic properties. The team focused on improving the crystallization process, as tin-based perovskite requires high temperatures for crystallization, making control challenging.

Dr. Chang highlighted the potential of THP technology for indoor solar cells and flexible solar cells, emphasizing that it complements silicon-based technologies rather than competing with them. The team aims to achieve around 20% efficiency with the THP technology this year and is working on enhancing stability to ensure a longer operational lifetime.

The University of Queensland is collaborating with PV solar cell manufacturer Halocell Energy to commercialize and scale the THP technology. Lab scaling will be conducted to increase the technology to 100 square centimeters, with a focus on solar module integration for potential commercial applications.