3 research outputs found
Toward Rollable Printed Perovskite Solar Cells for Deployment in Low-Earth Orbit Space Applications
The thin physical
profile of perovskite-based solar cells (PSCs)
fabricated on flexible substrates provides the prospect of a disruptive
increase in specific power (power-to-mass ratio), an important figure-of-merit
for solar cells to be used in space applications. In contrast to recent
reports on space applications of PSCs which focus on rigid glass-based
devices, in this work we investigate the suitability of flexible PSCs
for low-earth orbit (LEO) applications, where the perovskite layer
in the PSCs was prepared using either a Ruddlesden–Popper precursor
composition (BA2MA3Pb4I13; BA = butylammonium, MA = methylammonium) or a mixed-cation precursor
composition (Cs0.05FA0.81MA0.14Pb2.55Br0.45; FA = formamidinium). The flexible PSC
devices display a tolerance to high-energy proton (14 MeV) and electron
(>1 MeV) radiation comparable with, or superior to, equivalent
glass-based
PSC devices. The photovoltaic performance of the PSCs is found to
be significantly less dependent on angle-of-incidence than GaAs-based
triple-junction solar cells commonly used for space applications.
Results from a preliminary test of the robustness of the perovskite
film when subjected to LEO-like thermal environments are also reported.
In addition, a unique deployment concept integrating printed flexible
solar cells with titanium–nickel based shape memory alloy ribbons
is presented for thermally actuated deployment of flexible solar cells
from a rolled state
Toward Rollable Printed Perovskite Solar Cells for Deployment in Low-Earth Orbit Space Applications
The thin physical
profile of perovskite-based solar cells (PSCs)
fabricated on flexible substrates provides the prospect of a disruptive
increase in specific power (power-to-mass ratio), an important figure-of-merit
for solar cells to be used in space applications. In contrast to recent
reports on space applications of PSCs which focus on rigid glass-based
devices, in this work we investigate the suitability of flexible PSCs
for low-earth orbit (LEO) applications, where the perovskite layer
in the PSCs was prepared using either a Ruddlesden–Popper precursor
composition (BA2MA3Pb4I13; BA = butylammonium, MA = methylammonium) or a mixed-cation precursor
composition (Cs0.05FA0.81MA0.14Pb2.55Br0.45; FA = formamidinium). The flexible PSC
devices display a tolerance to high-energy proton (14 MeV) and electron
(>1 MeV) radiation comparable with, or superior to, equivalent
glass-based
PSC devices. The photovoltaic performance of the PSCs is found to
be significantly less dependent on angle-of-incidence than GaAs-based
triple-junction solar cells commonly used for space applications.
Results from a preliminary test of the robustness of the perovskite
film when subjected to LEO-like thermal environments are also reported.
In addition, a unique deployment concept integrating printed flexible
solar cells with titanium–nickel based shape memory alloy ribbons
is presented for thermally actuated deployment of flexible solar cells
from a rolled state
Aggregation of a Dibenzo[<i>b</i>,<i>def</i>]chrysene Based Organic Photovoltaic Material in Solution
Detailed
electrochemical studies have been undertaken on molecular
aggregation of the organic semiconductor 7,14-bisÂ((triisopropylsilyl)-ethynyl)ÂdibenzoÂ[<i>b</i>,<i>def</i>]Âchrysene (TIPS-DBC), which is used
as an electron donor material in organic solar cells. Intermolecular
association of neutral TIPS-DBC molecules was established by using <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectroscopy as well as by the pronounced dependence
of the color of TIPS-DBC solutions on concentration. Diffusion limited
current data provided by near steady-state voltammetry also reveal
aggregation. Furthermore, variation of concentration produces large
changes in shapes of transient DC and Fourier transformed AC (FTAC)
voltammograms for oxidation of TIPS-DBC in dichloromethane. Subtle
effects of molecular aggregation on the reduction of TIPS-DBC are
also revealed by the highly sensitive FTAC voltammetric method. Simulations
of FTAC voltammetric data provide estimates of the kinetic and thermodynamic
parameters associated with oxidation and reduction of TIPS-DBC. Significantly,
aggregation of TIPS-DBC facilitates both one-electron oxidation and
reduction by shifting the reversible potentials to less and more positive
values, respectively. EPR spectroscopy is used to establish the identity
of one-electron oxidized and reduced forms of TIPS-DBC. Implications
of molecular aggregation on the HOMO energy level in solution are
considered with respect to efficiency of organic photovoltaic devices
utilizing TIPS-DBC as an electron donor material