E-Thesis 391 views
Feasibility of Perovskite Solar Cells for Space Applications / DECLAN HUGHES
Swansea University Author: DECLAN HUGHES
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DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.63570
Abstract
Environmental stability remains as a critical barrier for the adoption of perovskite solar cells for space applications and understanding the roles of material degradation is the key to address this challenge. The thesis investigates the stability of established perovskite solar cell architectures u...
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Swansea, Wales, UK
2023
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Tsoi, Wing Chung. and Watson, Trystan. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63570 |
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| Abstract: |
Environmental stability remains as a critical barrier for the adoption of perovskite solar cells for space applications and understanding the roles of material degradation is the key to address this challenge. The thesis investigates the stability of established perovskite solar cell architectures under mimic Low Earth Orbit (LEO) conditions.Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) were found to have an impressive radiation hardness under 150 keV proton bombardment. At higher proton fluences, the performance degradation was found to correlate to the decrease in short circuit current density (Jsc). The decrease was found to be related to the degradation of the spiro-OMeTAD hole transporting layer (HTL). In mesoporous carbon-based PSCs, the proton radiation stability was found to be the highest seen under 150 keV proton bombardment. This stability was related to the thick carbon electrode.Thermal cycling measurements revealed that the spiro-OMeTAD HTL was responsible for decreasing device performance. Raman spectroscopy exhibited a decrease in the C-C and C=C bond peak intensities, related to the degradation of the layer. This correlates to an increase in non-radiative recombination and reduced Jsc. The same measurements on a P3HT HTL showed much greater thermal stability, with improved device performance retention after heat treatment and thermal cycling.A new thin-film encapsulation technique was also explored. Using spray coated Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), thermal and humidity stability measurements showed comparable performance to glass encapsulation. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements showed a large red-shift as a function of moisture ingress into the PSCs, and this was shown to correlate to an increase in Jsc and device performance.The work presented in this thesis establishes relationships between the choice of HTL and encapsulation technique with material/device stability under mimic LEO conditions. Namely how the choice in HTL can lead to reduced proton bombardment or thermal stability, and how the encapsulation method can have an adverse effect on device performance. These are crucial for addressing the feasibility of future PSCs under mimic LEO conditions, thereby paving the way toward achieving long-term stability of PSCs for space applications. |
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| Keywords: |
Aerospace, Photovoltaics, Raman, Proton Bombardment, Perovskite, Temperature, Encapsulation, Optoelectronic, PMMA, Low Earth Orbit |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |