RII Track-2 FEC: Low-Cost, Efficient Next-Generation Solar Cells for the Coming Clean Energy Revolution

非技术描述本研究基础设施改进Track-2聚焦EPSCoR*协作(RII Track-2 FEC)奖授予布朗大学，以表彰其与内布拉斯加州大学林肯分校和罗德岛学院的合作。该项目的重点是使用名为钙钛矿的化合物(钙钛矿的名称源于它们的晶体结构)来开发太阳能电池。该项目包括了解钙钛矿结构、电学和光学性质的材料研究，用于太阳能电池的无毒钙钛矿材料的开发，提高电力转换效率的实验，以及探索低成本、高效率钙钛矿太阳能电池的放大工艺。合作为初级教师提供指导，关键的大规模努力预计将增强罗德岛和内布拉斯加州的研究能力、基础设施和培训熟练的劳动力。研究生的教育培训包括创业课程；四年制大学(包括密西西比州的Tougaloo学院)的本科生和高中教师参加暑期研究/夏令营。该项目解决了混合钙钛矿太阳能电池(PSCs)开发中的科学和技术挑战，包括：(1)了解溶液沉积机理和对混合钙钛矿纳米/微结构的影响；(2)为太阳能电池的高通量制造和潜在商业化开发开发溶液处理方法和扩大工艺规模；(3)通过等离子体浓缩器和串联器件实验电极材料和提高太阳能电池的效率；以及(4)通过计算和实验验证，探索用于低成本、高效率PSC的无铅材料。这项工作包括合成薄膜、大块多晶和单晶形式的混杂钙钛矿材料；使用各种光谱、显微和结晶学方法进行表征；以及研究光学和输运性质以及铁电和光伏响应之间的相互作用，以提高PSCs的稳定性。该项目团队将探索用于可扩展制造的卷筒打印和刮刀涂层等技术，以及碳基电极、等离子集中器和串联设备，以提高PSC的功率转换效率。该团队还将继续发现和研究无铅钙钛矿系统(甲基铵、碘化锡、金属卤化物、氯化铂钾和铋基钙钛矿)，以开发用于PSCS的环保材料。该项目涉及10名教职员工、16名研究生、17名本科生和1名高中教师，以及12名参加太阳能夏令营的教师。K-12，公众推广活动利用正在进行的计划，重点是可再生能源/太阳能。*促进竞争性研究的实验计划

Non-technical descriptionThis Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-2 Focused EPSCoR* Collaboration (RII Track-2 FEC) award to Brown University is for a collaboration with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Rhode Island College. The project focuses on the development of solar cells using compounds called perovskites (the name perovskite derives from their crystal structure). The project includes materials research to understand structural, electrical, and optical properties of perovskites, development of non-toxic perovskite materials for use in solar cells, experimentation to enhance power conversion efficiency, and exploration of scale-up processes for low-cost, high efficiency perovskite solar cells. The collaboration provides mentoring for junior faculty and the critical mass effort is expected to enhance research capacity, infrastructure, and train skilled workforce in both Rhode Island and Nebraska. The educational training for graduate student includes courses on entrepreneurship; undergraduates from 4-year colleges (including Tougaloo College in Mississippi) and high school teachers are engaged in summer research/camps. SciToons for YouTube will be developed in partnership with Rhode Island School of Design to increase the scientific awareness of solar cell research for clean energy production.Technical descriptionThe project addresses scientific and technological challenges in the development of hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) including: (1) Understanding of solution-deposition mechanisms and effects on nano-/micro- structure of hybrid perovskites; (2) development of solution-processing methods and scale-up of processes for high throughput fabrication and potential commercialization of solar cells; (3) experimentation of electrode materials and solar cell efficiency enhancement through plasmonic concentrators and tandem devices; and (4) exploration of lead-free materials for use in low-cost, high-efficiency PSCs through computational and experimental validation. The work involves synthesis of hybrid perovskite materials in the form of thin films, bulk polycrystals, and single crystals; characterization using a variety of spectroscopic, microscopic and crystallographic methods; and studies of optical and transport properties and the interplay between ferroelectricity and photovoltaic response with an aim to improve the stability of PSCs. The project team will explore technologies such as roll-to-roll printing and doctor-blade coating for scalable manufacturing as well as carbon-based electrodes, plasmonic concentrators, and tandem devices to improve the power conversion efficiency of PSCs. The team will also pursue the discovery and studies of lead-free perovskite systems (methylammonium tin iodide, metal halide, potassium platinum chloride, and bismuth-based perovskites) to develop environmentally-safe materials for use in PSCs. The project involves ten faculty members, 16 graduate students, 17 undergraduate students and one high school teacher in research, as well as 12 teachers in summer camps on solar energy. The K-12, public outreach activities leverage ongoing programs and are focused on renewable/solar energy.*Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research