However, one major drawback of perovskite is its limited lifespan—lasting only about 5% as long as a silicon cell. Perovskite cells begin to deteriorate after just one year of use as compared to silicon cells which endure for 20 years. The material is particularly sensitive to high summer temperatures and can break down before providing significant energy savings.
To address this, Correa-Baena’s lab has developed a new technology to stabilize perovskite solar cells, which are constructed similarly to batteries.
Enhancing solar cells with titanium treatment
The perovskite solar cells built by Correa-Baena and his team have a positive and a negative electrode, with the perovskite layer placed between them. Before adding the positive electrode on top, the researchers exposed the perovskite to titanium gas in a light vacuum. This process, called vapor-phase infiltration, incorporates titanium into the top layer of the solar cell. The technology is currently under patent review.