Belgian research group Imec: Breakthrough in perovskite solar commercialization

Another new breakthrough in the field of perovskite solar thin-films has been claimed, with the Belgian research group Imec claiming the achievement of an active area efficiency of 11.9% for its solar module based on the technology. The aperture (an area of 16 cm2) conversion efficiency for the organometal halide perovskite module was tested as being 11.3%. According to Imec, these are, to date, the best conversion efficiencies for perovskite solar modules out there.

Interestingly, Imec has claimed that it’s currently aiming for “conversion efficiencies of more than 20% for this type of thin-film solar cells.”

Solar Power World Online provides more details:

These record devices have been fabricated by the conventional lab scale spin coating process. Imec also used a linear coating technique (blade coating) for all the solution based layers, to prove industrially viable fabrication methods. By using this method, the modules achieved a 9% aperture area efficiency. These achievements are important breakthroughs in bringing thin-film solar technology to industrial scalability for applications such as building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

“Imec is steadily improving the conversion efficiencies of its perovskite solar cells and at the same time adjusting the fabrication processes to enable industrial adoption of this promising technology,” stated Tom Aernouts, Research and Development manager for thin-film photovoltaics at Imec. “Leveraging our expertise in organic photovoltaics enables us to make rapid progress in enhancing the conversion efficiencies, ultimately aiming at conversion efficiencies of more than 20% for this type of thin-film solar cells.” Quite a target. If achieved anytime within the near future, it would certainly shake things up.

http://cleantechnica.com/2015/08/02/belgian-research-group-imec-breakthrough-perovskite-solar-commercialization/