Enhancing Solar Cell Performance using Aerosols
New solar cell technologies based on halide perovskites have made huge strides in development in the past 10 years. They now reach record efficiencies equivalent to the incumbent silicon technology, but are much cheaper to produce. Many companies are working to commercialise this new solar technology for applications ranging from full utility-scale power generation to emerging technologies such as on-vehicle photovoltaics (PVs), building-integrated PVs, and self-powered internet-of-things (IoT) devices. However, challenges remain in production of perovskite solar cells at large scale where material defects can limit module efficiencies and lifetimes.
AeroSolar was spun out in 2022 by Prof Joe Briscoe to address these challenges. It has developed a unique process for the post-treatment of halide perovskite semiconductors for PVs. It uses solvent and solution aerosols that are controllably passed over the surface of a perovskite film leading to recrystallisation and substantial increase in the material quality and therefore PV efficiency, particularly at large areas. AeroSolar is working with commercial perovskite PV manufacturers to improve the performance of the solar cells and therefore add value to their products
Computational fluid dynamics simulation of aerosol flow through the reactor during treatment
Schematic showing process of aerosol-induced recrystallisation