Epitaxial Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskites for Inexpensive and Efficient Solar Harvesting
Department
Chemistry
Major
Chemistry
Research Advisor
Switzer, Jay A., 1950-
Advisor's Department
Chemistry
Funding Source
Missouri S&T Opportunity for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program; U. S. Department of Energy Grant DE-FG02-08ER46518; National Science Foundation Grant DMR-1104801
Abstract
Our planet’s ever-increasing energy consumption drives a search for inexpensive and efficient renewable energy sources, and the sun could be the answer. Emerging inorganic-organic solar cell technology utilizing methylammonium metal halides with the perovskite structure experienced five-fold increase in power conversion efficiency since its introduction, from 3.8 % in 2009 to 20.1 % in 2014. These solar cells show potential to greatly cut costs of solar energy harvesting: however epitaxial films remain unexplored.
I will present a novel method to electrochemically synthesize epitaxial CH3NH3PbI3 films with the perovskite structure. Epitaxial PbO2 is converted to epitaxial CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite of tunable morphology and crystal orientation by simple dip conversion. Solar cells constructed with epitaxial CH3NH3PbI3 should exhibit increased efficiencies because the density of bulk and interface defects is minimized. This method could be integrated into cells to provide a clean and more cost-effective alternative to traditional silicon single crystal technology.
Biography
Ashley is a junior in the chemistry department from Springfield, Missouri. She is a member of the American Chemical Society and works as a research assistant in the Materials Research Center. Upon graduation in May 2016, she plans to enroll in graduate studies to continue her education in chemistry.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Award
Sciences oral presentation, First place
Location
Gasconade Room
Presentation Date
15 Apr 2015, 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Epitaxial Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskites for Inexpensive and Efficient Solar Harvesting
Gasconade Room
Our planet’s ever-increasing energy consumption drives a search for inexpensive and efficient renewable energy sources, and the sun could be the answer. Emerging inorganic-organic solar cell technology utilizing methylammonium metal halides with the perovskite structure experienced five-fold increase in power conversion efficiency since its introduction, from 3.8 % in 2009 to 20.1 % in 2014. These solar cells show potential to greatly cut costs of solar energy harvesting: however epitaxial films remain unexplored.
I will present a novel method to electrochemically synthesize epitaxial CH3NH3PbI3 films with the perovskite structure. Epitaxial PbO2 is converted to epitaxial CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite of tunable morphology and crystal orientation by simple dip conversion. Solar cells constructed with epitaxial CH3NH3PbI3 should exhibit increased efficiencies because the density of bulk and interface defects is minimized. This method could be integrated into cells to provide a clean and more cost-effective alternative to traditional silicon single crystal technology.
