What are perovskite solar cells?
Next-generation solar cells that are thin, lightweight, bendable, and can be mass-produced at low cost.
It can be applied to a variety of mounting locations, including building and building walls and windows, as well as car roofs and drones.
Furthermore, compared to silicon semiconductors, the cost of production can be lowered due to a significant reduction in raw material costs and simplification of manufacturing.
This is expected to break through the limitations of solar power generation up to now and could become the basis for new energy technologies.
Currently, silicon-based solar cells account for 95% of the solar cell market share, but there are concerns about the limited space available for installation, and perovskite solar cells are expected to solve this problem.
In addition, development of perovskite-silicon hybrid solar cells is underway, which is expected to further improve efficiency.
Improved conversion efficiency
Conversion efficiencies are improving rapidly, with efficiencies already exceeding 25%, nearly equal to or exceeding those of conventional silicon-based solar cells.
Materials for perovskite solar cells
Perovskite is the name given to materials with a specific crystalline structure, consisting primarily of hybrid organic and inorganic materials. In perovskite solar cells, materials with this perovskite structure are responsible for absorbing light and converting it into electricity.
The materials used in perovskite solar cells are generally composed of metals such as lead and tin and organic halides. These materials absorb light efficiently and have the ability to convert sunlight into energy even in thin layers. Another major advantage over silicon solar cells is that the band gap (the energy required for an electron to enter an excited state) can be easily tuned and the broad spectrum of sunlight can be efficiently utilized.
Problems with Perovskite Solar Cells
Several challenges remain for perovskite solar cells. One particular problem is the susceptibility of perovskite materials to moisture and oxygen, which leads to degradation. For this reason, encapsulation technology is being developed to maintain stable performance over the long term, and materials are being developed to improve environmental resistance. In addition, lead is currently used in many perovskite materials, but there are strict regulations regarding the handling of lead as a hazardous substance, so the development of new materials other than lead is also an important research issue.
As a new Japanese industry
One of the main raw materials for perovskite solar cells other than lead is iodine. Iodine can be produced in Japan, where it accounts for 30% of the world’s share in terms of production volume.
As such, it is a new Japanese industry, and the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is promoting its widespread use as a national policy.
Perovskite solar cell related stocks
- 6752 Panasonic
- 4204 SEKISUI CHEMICAL
- 7203 TOYOTA
- 7752 RICOH
- 5711 Mitsubishi Materials
- 5333 NGK Insulators
- 7259 AISIN
- 4118 KANEKA
- 7282 Toyoda Gosei
- 6996 Nichicon
- 6804 Hosiden
- 4362 NIPPON FINE CHEMICAL
- 3436 SUMCO
- 1663 K&O Energy Group
- 8015 Toyota Tsusho
- 4107 ISE CHEMICALS
