By Prof. Shahzada Ahmad, Basque Center for Materials, Applications, and Nanostructures, Leioa, Spain.
BCMaterials, Bilbao, Spain
Perovskites solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a beacon in thin film photovoltaics due to their stunning performance as light harvester, which led to fabricate the devices with light-to-electricity conversion efficiency as high as 23.3%, at a cut rate price. However, the chemical stability and level of atmospheric tolerance in perovskite materials is low, and strategies are being adopted to address these challenges for its possible commercial endeavor. By the use of rational charge selective contacts, device and interface engineering, will contribute to solve the issues related with its stability. In this talk, we will illustrate the examples of suitable charge selective contacts, i.e. electron transport layer or molecularly engineered hole transport materials to control device degradation. However, it can be assumed that just by the replacement of charge selective layer, the degradation paths in perovskite based solar cells cannot be fully solved. By adopting the approach for the passivation of perovskite surface without altering its electro-optical properties seems to be an effective approach, which can also extend environmental protection. Optimal surface passivation is vital to protect the surface from extrinsic attack while conserving the electro-optical properties. We will discuss strategy how the compositional engineering, passivation or doping of perovskite allows extending its lifetime.
Biography
Shahzada Ahmad is an Ikerbasque professor (tenure full professor). Prior to his current position, Dr. Ahmad has worked as program director (2012-2017) at Abengoa Research, a research division of multinational energy based conglomerate Abengoa. He was leader for many disruptive technologies with high forecast production growth in the field of energy generation and storage. He finished his Ph.D from National Physical laboratory in the field of Materials chemistry and subsequently moved to the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, as Alexander von Humboldt Fellow to work on surface and interface studies. At École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, he developed nanoporous films for metal-free electro-catalysis and new redox shuttle. Dr. Ahmad is a prolific author and his scientific publications list reflects his diverse field of interest in the domain of physical chemistry, nanotechnology and materials science with a research mission to develop advanced materials for energy application. His work has led to the invitation to speak at many scientific or policy based conferences, inventor of patents, member of young academy of Europe, and his work was also endorsed by European research council consolidator grant (2016). He has been also selected as young champions of 2018 by World Economic forum. He is an advocate of renewable energy and passionately works on radically innovation technologies to address societal challenges.