A Simple Salt Unlocks More Powerful Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells have emerged over the last decade as one of the most promising alternatives to silicon-based photovoltaics. Their potential for higher efficiencies, lower production costs, and flexible designs has made them a focal point in clean energy research. Now, scientists at University College London (UCL) have demonstrated that something as simple as a salt additive could help push this technology to the next level.

Perovskite solar cells boosted by salt additive

The Role of Guanidinium Thiocyanate

The UCL team discovered that adding guanidinium thiocyanate, a simple salt, to mixed tin-lead perovskites can significantly enhance both efficiency and stability. The salt slows down and regulates how perovskite crystals grow during fabrication, resulting in smoother, more uniform films with fewer defects. These improvements translate directly into longer-lasting and higher-performing solar devices.

In their experiments, the researchers achieved an efficiency of 22.3% for these modified perovskite cells, comparable to today’s best silicon panels and close to the record for tin-lead perovskites. This is especially important because these materials are often used as the bottom layer in tandem solar cells, where multiple layers are stacked to capture different parts of the solar spectrum.

Paving the Way for Tandem Solar Cells

Tandem solar cells, whether combining perovskite with silicon or using multiple perovskite layers, represent the future of ultra-efficient solar power. Some all-perovskite tandem devices have already surpassed 30% efficiency in laboratory conditions. By improving the quality of the bottom perovskite layer with guanidinium thiocyanate, researchers believe it will be possible to push these records even higher, paving the way toward commercial breakthroughs.

Dr. Tom Macdonald, corresponding author from UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering, highlighted that this method provides a “straightforward, effective way to enhance perovskite quality during manufacturing, delivering solar cells that are both higher performing and more stable, key requirements for commercial success.”

Why Salt Matters for the Future of Solar

Perovskites already have several advantages over silicon: they can be made at low temperatures, require simpler equipment, and can be applied to lightweight, flexible surfaces. But long-term stability and defect control remain challenges. The ability of guanidinium salts to fine-tune crystal formation offers a promising route to overcoming these obstacles.

This research builds on earlier findings by the same group, which showed that guanidinium additives also improve charge transport and reduce unwanted ion migration in perovskite devices. Together, these advances could help unlock a new generation of solar panels that are not only more efficient but also more durable and cost-effective.

🔗 Original article: TechXplore – Simple salt could help unlock more powerful perovskite solar cells

This article for Quantum Server Networks was prepared with the assistance of AI technologies to enhance clarity, accessibility, and SEO optimization.

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