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Predicting Solar Cell Performance from Terahertz and Microwave Spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Hempel Hannes,
Savenjie Tom J.,
Stolterfoht Martin,
Neu Jens,
Failla Michele,
Paingad Vaisakh C.,
Kužel Petr,
Heilweil Edwin J.,
Spies Jacob A.,
Schleuning Markus,
Zhao Jiashang,
Friedrich Dennis,
Schwarzburg Klaus,
Siebbeles Laurens D.A.,
Dörflinger Patrick,
Dyakonov Vladimir,
Katoh Ryuzi,
Hong Min Ji,
Labram John G.,
Monti Maurizio,
ButlerCaddle Edward,
LloydHughes James,
Taheri Mohammad M.,
Baxter Jason B.,
Magnanelli Timothy J.,
Luo Simon,
Cardon Joseph M.,
Ardo Shane,
Unold Thomas
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.202102776
Subject(s) - materials science , terahertz radiation , perovskite (structure) , charge carrier , optoelectronics , microwave , photovoltaic system , solar cell , terahertz spectroscopy and technology , semiconductor , energy conversion efficiency , photoluminescence , diffusion , perovskite solar cell , physics , chemistry , electrical engineering , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics , crystallography , engineering
Mobilities and lifetimes of photogenerated charge carriers are core properties of photovoltaic materials and can both be characterized by contactless terahertz or microwave measurements. Here, the expertise from fifteen laboratories is combined to quantitatively model the current‐voltage characteristics of a solar cell from such measurements. To this end, the impact of measurement conditions, alternate interpretations, and experimental inter‐laboratory variations are discussed using a (Cs,FA,MA)Pb(I,Br) 3 halide perovskite thin‐film as a case study. At 1 sun equivalent excitation, neither transport nor recombination is significantly affected by exciton formation or trapping. Terahertz, microwave, and photoluminescence transients for the neat material yield consistent effective lifetimes implying a resistance‐free JV‐curve with a potential power conversion efficiency of 24.6 %. For grainsizes above ≈20 nm, intra‐grain charge transport is characterized by terahertz sum mobilities of ≈32 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . Drift‐diffusion simulations indicate that these intra‐grain mobilities can slightly reduce the fill factor of perovskite solar cells to 0.82, in accordance with the best‐realized devices in the literature. Beyond perovskites, this work can guide a highly predictive characterization of any emerging semiconductor for photovoltaic or photoelectrochemical energy conversion. A best practice for the interpretation of terahertz and microwave measurements on photovoltaic materials is presented.