Researchers from Kaunas University of Technology , Lithuania, who contributed to the development of record-breaking solar cells a few years ago, expanded their invention. The self-assembled monolayers can now be applied not only in inverted but also in regular structure perovskite solar cells.
According to Malinauskas, the development of such a layer is a relatively simple and material-efficient process that requires a glass substrate with an electrically conductive metal oxide layer to be immersed in or sprayed with a highly diluted solution of the compound. Although it is a very thin layer, the role it plays in solar cells is extremely important. Malinauskas says that the best analogy for its function is the subway."This layer, like an automatic gate on the subway, allows only one type of charge to pass through and continue its journey towards the electrode," he says.Perovskite solar cell structures differ in the sequence of layers.
At the moment, as both structures are being intensively researched, the KTU scientists believe that the new invention is just as significant and promising as the last one.The new invention is the result of a collaboration with scientists from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology .