Developing Perovskite Solar Cells : A review of life cycle assessment studies

Huseyin SARIALTIN

Outline

• Introduction

• Evolution of Perovskite Solar Cells

• Life Cycle of Photovoltaics

• Perovskite Solar Cell Production

• Conclusion

OverviewPhotovoltaic technologies have the potential to provide a significant amount of the energy required to achieve future energy demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Recent years photovoltaic (PV) market have witnessed a rapid evolution of perovskite solar cells,which have comparably low cost and high power conversion efficiency.

Life cycle assessment studies for different types of perovskite solar module architectures to compare environmental performance.

Introduction

Discovered by Russian materialist Lev Perovski.

We can express this crystal structure as ABX3

The tolerance factor is a value found in relation to the radii of the elements in this crystal structure

Figure 1. Crystalline Structure of Perovskite (1)

Methylammonium lead halide perovskites

Methylammonium lead halide perovskites have been used as absorbent material in solar cell applications.

Evolution of Perovskite Solar Cells

Figure 2. Mesoporous Perovskite Solar Cell (2)

The first application of perovskite material to solar cell studies was in dye sensitive solar cells

Active and buffer layers are sandwiched between the TCO coated on the glass substrate and the metal contact electrode

Figure 3. Classic and inverted planar perovskite structures (3)

Due to some disadvantages of mesoporous architecture, studies on planar architecture have gained speed

The efficiency in planar architectural studies is lower than in mesoporous structures

National Renewable Energy Labratory

Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells

Methodology

Life cycle analysis is done in two ways.

The first one is examined in all steps from production to recycling, from the cradle to the cradle called Cradle to Cradle.

The second is the cradle-to-gate process, where the material and production processes are examined until they reach the user.

LCA of Photovoltaics

Goal and Scope

Determination of architecture of PV

Inventory Analysis

Material InventoryEnergy Inventory

Impact Assessment

Energy Payback TimeCO2 Emission Factor

Environmental Indicators

Interpretion

Evaluation of the Results

Goal and Scope

Determination of architecture of PV

Inventory Analysis

Material InventoryEnergy Inventory

Impact Assessment

Energy Payback TimeCO2 Emission FactorEnvironmental Indicators

Interpretion

Evaluation of the Results

What LCA says about Perovskite Solar Cells

Which operation Technique ?

Which Electrode Material for Better Efficiency ?

Is it possible to eliminate unstable materials in architecture ?

Environment friendly materials to reduce CO2 emission factor ?

Production Method

Vapor deposition and solution process are two common methods production techniques

Efficiency of cells produced by

Vapour Deposition is around 15.4% (5)Spin coating is around 11,5 (6).

CO2 emission is 1000 g CO2 equiv / kWh,

Energy recovery is around 1.5 years (7)

Electron Transport Material

In most of the researches the preferred material for this layer is TiO2.

ZnO is one of the alternative materials that has been tried as electron transport material.

Hole Transport Layer Free Devices

Although the HTL-free configuration is more cost-effective, it has been observed that removing the HTL results in a decrease in the device PCE

Figure 3. HTM Free Perovskite Architecture (7)

Tin As an alternative to Lead

The lead element that will cause problems for nature. For this reason, the work on the use of tin as an alternative to the lead has gained speed.

Conclusion

Perovskite cells have emerged as the one of the important alternative for silicon solar cell

Lifecycle analysis of Perovskite technology helps to determine how much material and energy is required for the production of cells, and, lastly, which is the most optimal production process

The researches the EPBT and CO2 emission values are different for different architectures and material technologies

Future life cycle analysis studies will shed light on these values in order to optimize the efficiency of the cell at a certain level.

References

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