Center for Excitonics

Events

Perovskite photovoltaics—the first real contender for silicon?

December 5, 2016 at Perovskite Symposium: 12pm-4pm/ 36-462

Bert Conings
Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) Fellow, Hasselt University

Hybrid lead halide perovskite solar cells represent the fastest developing photovoltaic (PV) technology in history: In only a few years time, perovskite solar cells have achieved certified power conversion efficiencies of up to 22.1%, owing to their desirable physical properties and an eager community of researchers channeling their experience from competing technologies (organic and dye-sensitized solar cells) into this new wondrous avenue.

First, a brief overview will be given on the onset of the short but eventful history of perovskite photovoltaics. Then, key advances will be discussed in terms of device architecture, charge carrier acceptor layers, the impact of processing conditions, reproducibility and stability. A critical view is provided with respect to the requirements that have to be met and the challenges we face on the road to large-scale application of the perovskite PV technology.

Bert Conings obtained his master degree in Applied Physics (Nanoscience & Technology) at the Eindhoven University of Technology (NL) in 2008. He completed his PhD on hybrid solar cells at Hasselt University (BE) in 2012. He has then been appointed as postdoctoral researcher at Hasselt University, where he became a postdoctoral fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) in 2013.  His core focus is perovskite photovoltaics—on the device level and the material level. More generally, his interests include the electro-optical characterization of nanostructured materials for applications in energy and life sciences.