Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Materials Science
Session: 4
Room: Exhibit Hall
Madalynn Payne - Livingstone College
Hypothesis and why the research is important:Currently, one of the most promising developments in renewable energy is the perovskite solar cell. This solar cell is approaching a 30% conversion efficiency, outstripping the silicon solar panel by almost 3%. There are a wide variety of techniques for making a perovskite solar cell, including one-step and two-step method, solvent engineering, fast deposition-crystallization, as well as some vapor-based methods. In this study, we compare two methods: one-step deposition and solvent-solvent extraction.Methods & Control:For solvent-solvent extraction 0.75mL of 1.0 M perovskite (MAPbI3) in DMF was spread evenly over the glass substrate. Once the DMF is spread, the solvent-solvent extraction is completed by spinning the glass at 2,500 RPM while flushing with 1mL of toluene. The timing of the flush is determined by testing. The solvent-solvent extraction technique is compared with a one-step method of a controlled volume and concentration of the perovskite solution applied and annealed at 75C°. Microscopic inspection determined that the crystals formed with the solvent-solvent extraction were much smoother than those of the one-step method. Results:Using three sample sets of a total of 21 cells we found the solvent-solvent extraction method had a success rate of 95% as compared with the one-step method’s typical success rate of 70%. The solvent-solvent extraction cells produced a voltage up to 320 millivolts which is comparable with the one-step method cells of producing 350 millivolts occasionally.Conclusion and future questions:Based on our results, we ponder the efficiency of the solvent-solvent method in other solar power mediums, especially non-carbon based solar cells.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF HBCU-UP Grant
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Emmanuel D. Williams, ewilliams@livingstone.edu
Role: I did the experiments, data analysis, abstract, and poster presentation.