1. METAL OXIDES: PAVING THE WAY TO PEROVSKITE CELLS
Desmond Zheng
Patrick Flaherty

2. A Future with Perovskite
Usage of fossil fuels is going to decline around the globe in the near future
New, perovskite solar cell technology possesses staggering efficiency and affordable cost
Composed of organic-metal halide compound
Arranged in crystal structure of ABX3
Cell rapidly degrades when exposed to moisture

3. Cubic Perovskite Structure – Cation A is CH3NH3 – Cation B is Lead (Pb) – Anion X is a halogen, usually Iodine (I)

4. Perils of Perovskite Perovskite degrades when exposed to moisture
Under these conditions, perovskite solar cell technology would be extremely limited in terms of where it could be used geographically
A possible solution to this problem is the use of metal oxides

5. Meddling with Metals
Certain metal oxides can be applied to perovskite cells to help with the moisture degradation issue
Metal oxides such as Titanium Oxide and Zinc Oxide are currently undergoing testing in research labs
Researchers must be sure to pick a metal oxide that is both efficient and sustainable

6. How will this Coating be Implemented?
Spin coating
Deposits the oxide with an acidic solution of titanium isopropoxide in ethanol
Needs to be heated to 500ºC
Chemical bath deposition (CBD)
Perovskite laid on metal oxide, and then treated with chemical bath for the metal oxide coating to be applied
Only needs to be heated to 150ºC

8. Limitations of Perovskite
Mass production of metal oxide-coated solar cells
Expensive and difficult
A new form of manufacturing would need to be developed
Massive amounts of perovskite would need to not be exposed to air in the facility, and then the metal oxide coating would need to be applied

9. Approaching the Apex
Peroskite cells will allow science to the apex of solar cell technology as we know it
Silicon solar cells have not improved efficiency from 25% in the past twenty years
Pervoskite solar cells achieved 20% efficiency in three years, where it took silicon cells ten years to do that.

10. Power-Per-Weight (Watts per gram)

11. Efficiency Levels (data from NREL)
Silicon Cells
Efficiency Levels (data from NREL)
Perovskite Cells

12. Perovskite's Potential
Manufactured into a transparent cell
This would change the way we power our cities
Unlike fossil fuel-generated power sources, perovskite solar cells do not generate harmful carbon emissions
If perovskite continues to increase efficiency at such a fast pace, it could lead to green, self-sustaining cities

13. Impact on the Future and Society
Perovskite could potentially be the cheapest solar cell ever made
Can be made at a lower temperature than silicon cells
Would cause less energy to be used in manufacturing, and more money saved
Primary material used in perovskite is a lead based compound
Could pose environmental threats, due to lead being toxic
Lead may one day be able to be replaced by tin in the cells
Perovskite is ultra-light and flexible, possessing the potential to be implemented on screens, drones, and other devices

14. Flexible Cell
Undergoing stress
Glider Powered by perovskite

15. The Outlook
Perovskite solar cells have a high potential to change the energy market
High versatility and solar efficiency allow for seemingly limitless applications
Metal oxide coatings, once perfected, will allow this technology to become a sustainable and affordable source of energy on the market
Increasing rates of solar efficiency through research show that perovskite cells will be the dominant form of solar energy

16. Questions