The global demand for sustainable and efficient energy solutions has intensified due to the limitations of fossil fuels and the growing need for renewable alternatives. Current solar energy technologies, such as silicon and perovskite-based solar cells, are constrained by efficiency limits and rapid charge carrier recombination. This project addresses these challenges by exploring the potential of ferroelectric materials, which possess intrinsic electric fields that enable highly efficient photo-voltage generation beyond the conventional bandgap limits.
The core objective of this research is to investigate the ultrafast photo-excited carrier dynamics in ferroelectric solar-energy converters using state-of-the-art ultrafast electron microscopy. By employing femtosecond and picometer-scale imaging, the project aims to capture the real-space dynamics of photo-generated carriers, providing fundamental insights into charge separation mechanisms and to probe the possibility of advancements in high-efficiency solar energy conversion.
Ferroelectric materials have unique ability to generate an internal electric field, which helps the charge carrier separation and minimizes recombination losses. Unlike conventional semiconductor materials, where charge separation is governed by external junctions, ferroelectric solar cells exploit spontaneous polarization, making them a promising candidate for next-generation photovoltaics. However, the underlying mechanisms of charge transport and separation in these materials remain poorly understood, limiting their practical application. This project aims to unfold the unknowns by visualizing the charge carrier dynamics in real time using ultrafast electron diffraction.
