Molecular glues for perovskite materials

Project Information

PerovSAMs

Grant agreement ID: 747599

DOI

10.3030/747599

Project closed

EC signature date 27 February 2017

Start date 1 January 2018

End date 25 February 2020

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 170 121,60

EU contribution

€ 170 121,60

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PerovSAMs (Molecular glues for perovskite materials)

Reporting period: 2018-01-01 to 2019-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Halide perovskites represent a broad family of materials with high potential for solar energy production (photovoltaics) as well as high-efficiency lighting applications (light-emitting diodes, LEDs). As such, the development of these materials could mean a major impulse for a more sustainable future based on renewable electricity sources and low-consumption devices.
This project is encompassed within the global effort to boost the development of emerging halide perovskite technology. In particular, PerovSAMs has focussed on developing different strategies to overcome some of the bottlenecks that still prevent the widespread use of halide perovskites.
First, we have worked on enhancing the stability of these materials by coating them with ultrathin layers (self-assembled monolayers) of different moisture-resistant organic molecules. Second, we have developed low-toxicity alternatives to the most commonly used lead-based perovskites. Furthermore, these low-toxicity alternatives have been synthesized through green chemistry solvent-free approaches. Third, we have worked on understading in-depth the fundamental structural and optoelectronic properties of the so-formed materials. Fourth, we have implemented these materials in high efficiency devices: in particular a single-junction solar cell with power conversion efficiency approaching 20% and a red-emitting LED with external quantum efficiency exceeding 3%.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

This project has led to numerous results published in several peer-reviewed journal articles (see publication list).
On one hand, we have developed a novel approach of mechanochemical synthesis for the formation of high-purity halide perovskites and related materials, with a special focus on low-toxicity alternatives to the most commonly-used lead compounds. On the other hand we have implemented several of the so-formed materials in high-efficiency optoelectronic devices such as solar cells and light-emitting diodes.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

PerovSAMs has gone beyond the state of the art in several topics. Possibly the most significant breakthrough has been in the mechanochemical synthesis of different multinary metal halides, including but not limited to perovskites. After several demonstrations of this new methodology, that allows the formation of high-purity semiconductors in a simple an efficient manner, a review article was written in the prestigious journal Advanced Energy Materials (IF = 24.884): F. Palazon, Y. El Ajjouri, and Henk J. Bolink, Making by Grinding: Mechanochemistry Boosts the Development of Halide Perovskites and Other Multinary Metal Halides, Adv. Energy Mater., 1902499 (2019).

Perovskite optoelectronic device