Perovskite photovoltaics (PV) has emerged as a prime contender to augment existing solar cell technologies and transforming the grid toward fully renewable energy. Recent research is also beginning to explore viability of perovskites as a space PV technology to power future missions into near-Earth and deep space. Perovskites are being suggested to exhibit remarkable tolerance to space radiation. This research field is, however, still in its infancy and requires a set of protocols that can allow proper assessment. In this talk, I will present guidelines to performing relevant radiation-tolerance experiments. Putting recent reports into perspective, I will highlight three major pitfalls to avoid while testing radiation-tolerance of perovskite solar cells: cells with low initial power-conversion-efficiencies, use of incorrect irradiation energies and fluences, and inadequate device architectures. Protons will be shown to be a radiation of choice for this assessment. The talk aims to drive home the point that perovskites are very different from the conventional III-V semiconductors – with significantly thinner absorber layers, and soft lattices – and protocols defined earlier for assessing III-V cells break down for perovskites. Here, high-energy protons and electrons create local heating and can potentially self-heal the damaged perovskite lattices, masking the true extent of damage and making the tests less relevant. Low-energy protons will be suggested as the key to relevant testing and will be shown to create a uniform displacement damage profile within the device stack, mimicking the damage space radiation inflicts. I will close by presenting our recent strategies on improving radiation-hardness of perovskites.

Perovskites in space: Accessing and making perovskites photovoltaics radiation-hard

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.