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The high tolerance and stability of triple halide perovskite solar cells is demonstrated in practical space conditions at high irradiation levels. The solar cells were irradiated for a range of proton energies (75 keV, 300 keV, and 1 MeV) and fluences (up to 4 × 1014 p/cm2). The fluences of the energy proton irradiations were varied to induce the same amount of vacancies in the absorber layer due to non-ionizing nuclear energy loss (predominant at <300 keV) and electron ionization loss (predominant at >300 keV). While proton irradiation of the solar cells initially resulted in degradation of the photovoltaic parameters, self-healing was observed after two months where the performance of the devices was shown to return to their pristine operation levels. Their ability to recover upon radiation exposure supports the practical potential of perovskite solar cells for next-generation space missions.
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Radiation versus environmental degradation in unencapsulated metal halide perovskite solar cells
Abstract Here, the radiation hardness of metal halide perovskite solar cells exposed to space conditions versus the effects of environmental degradation are assessed. The relative response of the constituent layers of the architecture to radiation is analyzed, revealing a general resilience of the structure when assessed across varying proton energy levels and fluences. However, despite the tolerance of the structure to irradiation, sensitivity to environmental degradation is observed during the transit of the device between the radiation and characterization facilities. Experimental evidence suggests the NiOx/perovskite interface is particularly sensitive to the effects of humidity and/or temperature exposure, while the irradiation of the devices appears to induce thermally activated annealing: improving the solar cells upon radiation exposure.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2210722
- PAR ID:
- 10539029
- Editor(s):
- Irvine, John
- Publisher / Repository:
- IOP Publishing
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Physics: Energy
- Volume:
- 6
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 2515-7655
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 045001
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- metal halide perovskites, space photovoltaics, radiation tolerance
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: 1.5MB Other: pdf
- Size(s):
- 1.5MB
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7655/ad658d
