The ZSW scientists intend to use the new system to investigate and optimize the application of contact layers in perovskite solar cells, among other things. The ZSW is currently researching perovskite solar cells, whose main advantages are the low-cost manufacturing processes and their high efficiency. In addition, they can be excellently combined with other materials to form so-called tandem solar cells. Metal-halide perovskites are regarded as particularly promising materials for next-generation solar cells. These semiconductors, which owe their name to the special perovskite crystal structure, have significantly increased efficiency in recent years. In addition, the starting materials needed for perovskite solar cells are abundant, and the solar cells can be produced easily and cheaply and used in a variety of ways.
Like silicon, the mineral occurs in the earth’s crust, but it can also be produced artificially. The efficiency theoretically achievable with perovskite solar cells is about 30.5 %. Rapid progress has raised hopes of increasing the efficiency of commercial PV modules using perovskite.
