Bulk Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells by Novel Hybrid Perovskite Materials

非技术：太阳能电池通过光电效应将光直接转化为电。它们高效、经济地利用太阳能的能力使它们成为一种有前途的能源。硅已被证明是制造太阳能电池的最佳材料。一类新的材料，由有机和无机成分制成的杂化钙钛矿，已经被用作太阳能电池的光捕获活性层。钙钛矿太阳能电池因其性能接近硅电池，且与低成本加工和柔性电子兼容而备受关注。到目前为止，最有效的最先进的钙钛矿太阳能电池是从铅基混合钙钛矿观察到的。通过用其他金属离子取代铅或锡来调整杂化钙钛矿的光学和电子特性是相对未被探索的。研究还表明，钙钛矿薄膜内载流子扩散不平衡限制了钙钛矿太阳能电池的性能。该项目将通过开发由新型混合钙钛矿制成的具有大块异质结（混合）器件结构的钙钛矿太阳能电池来解决上述问题。该项目的成功有望显著推进钙钛矿太阳能电池领域的发展。该项目还将为本科生和研究生提供最前沿的研究机会。技术方面：本项目旨在利用新型杂化钙钛矿材料开发具有体异质结器件结构的高效钙钛矿太阳能电池。第一个目标是开发新的杂化钙钛矿材料，其中铅（或锡）被不同的金属阳离子取代。第二个目标是研究这些新型杂化钙钛矿材料的分子和晶体结构、薄膜形态、光电性能和光伏性能。第三个目标是用新型杂化钙钛矿材料研究具有体异质结器件结构的钙钛矿太阳能电池。第四个目标是将体异质结钙钛矿太阳能电池的器件性能与体异质结复合光活性层的分子和晶体结构、薄膜形态和光电性能联系起来。本项目将促进对分子与晶体结构相互作用、新型杂化钙钛矿材料光电性能、器件物理与工程、钙钛矿太阳能电池器件性能的提高等方面的基础性认识。从这项工作中获得的见解将通过比较器件性能和材料特性来阐明材料设计和器件物理规则。学生对科学、技术、工程和数学学科的参与将通过使用基于探究的方法和实践学习活动吸引高中生和本科生。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Nontechnical:Solar cells convert light directly into electricity via the photovoltaic effect. Their ability to efficiently and economically harness solar energy makes them a promising source of power. Silicon has proved to be the best material for making solar cells. A new class of materials, hybrid perovskites made from organic and inorganic components, have been used as the light-harvesting active layer in solar cells. Perovskite solar cells have attracted great attention as their performance approaches that of silicon and they are compatible with low-cost processing and flexible electronics. So far, the most efficient state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells were observed from the lead-based hybrid perovskites. Tuning the optical and electronic properties of hybrid perovskites by replacing lead or tin with other metal ions is relatively unexplored. Studies have also shown that unbalanced charge carrier diffusion within perovskite thin films limits the performance of perovskite solar cells. This project will address above issues by developing perovskite solar cells with a bulk heterojunction (mixed) device structure made from novel hybrid perovskites. The success of this project is expected to significantly advance the field of perovskite solar cells. The project will also provide cutting edge research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students.Technical:This project aims to develop efficient perovskite solar cells with a bulk heterojunction device structure by novel hybrid perovskite materials. The first objective is to develop novel hybrid perovskite materials, where lead (or tin) is substituted by different metal cations. The second objective is to investigate molecular and crystal structures, film morphologies, optoelectronic properties, and photovoltaic properties of these novel hybrid perovskite materials. The third objective is to investigate perovskite solar cells with a bulk heterojunction device structure by novel hybrid perovskite materials. The fourth objective is to correlate the device performance of bulk heterojunction perovskite solar cells with molecular and crystal structures, film morphologies and optoelectronic properties of bulk heterojunction composite photoactive layers. This project will advance the fundamental understanding about the interplay of molecular and crystal structures, the optoelectronic properties of novel hybrid perovskite materials, device physics and engineering, and the enhancement of device performance of perovskite solar cells. Insights gained from this work will elucidate materials design and device physics rules through comparison of device performance with materials properties. The participation of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines will be increased by engaging high school and undergraduate students using inquiry-based methods and hands-on learning activities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.