Categories
Research

The Perovskino

Innovating Solar Cell Stability Assessment: The Perovskino Gizmo

In the realm of emerging solar photovoltaic technologies, assessing the operational stability of cells at the laboratory level presents a significant challenge. This challenge stems from the need for specialized equipment dedicated solely to this task over extended periods. Currently, to obtain representative data on the operational stability of a perovskite cell, continuous monitoring of its maximum power point is required for a time interval ranging from 500 to 1000 hours, as commonly reported (Figure 1).

Figure 1: T80 (hours) vs Publication date of stability tests on Perovskite Solar Cells. Source: 1. The Perovskite Databse Project; 2. Materials Zone; 3. An open-access database and analysis tool for perovskite solar cells based on the FAIR data principles (2022)

The evaluation process involves the exclusive use of at least one potentiostat and a solar simulator for each device under study. While a solar simulator can illuminate multiple devices simultaneously, each typically requires a potentiostat to apply voltage and measure current at the cell terminals to determine its maximum power.

This equipment limitation has resulted in very few laboratories worldwide specializing in emerging photovoltaic research having the appropriate resources to conduct a comprehensive analysis of cell stability across a sufficient number of cells. This difficulty hampers the attainment of statistically significant results supporting improvements in stability regarding design and/or composition of active layers.

In summary, much more exhaustive research is needed in the area of operational stability of these devices. However, conducting tests on multiple cells over extended periods, coupled with the expensive necessary equipment, poses a significant challenge to progress in this field.

Unlike the assessment of simple cell efficiency with a current-voltage (JV) curve, which can be done quickly, economically, and automatedly, measuring operational stability is inherently a slow and costly process due to the required standard equipment. Additionally, it is complicated due to the specific characteristics of perovskite cells that cannot be evaluated with conventional algorithms used in traditional photovoltaics, where JV curves do not exhibit hysteresis issues.

This context helps understand why, despite advances in efficiency, the field of operational stability in perovskite solar cells has not progressed at the same level. This aspect of operational stability is crucial for the commercial development of emerging perovskite-based photovoltaics.

The EASI project adopted an innovative approach to address this issue, the development of the “Perovskino” gizmo.

The “Perovskino” is a maximum power point tracker for photovoltaic cells designed with a maximum cost reduction approach. Their function will be crucial for effectively and economically tracking the performance of perovskite photovoltaic cells over a long period.

The Low-Cost MPP Tracker “Perovskino”

“Perovskino” is a low-cost hardware (less than 5€ per unit) for long-term operational stability measurements in perovskite solar cells. Our research focuses on developing an innovative hardware solution for research purposes that allows a high number of simultaneous long-term stability measurements, eliminating the need for expensive and complex monitoring systems. Our hardware design is based on the Arduino platform, and specifically, our development is a shield that attaches to these Arduino UNO R3 Boards (Figure 2).

Due to the peculiarity of galvanostatically measuring cell efficiency, along with the pronounced hysteresis exhibited by perovskite devices, the “Perovskino” features a novel maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm, the firmware of which we have deposited in the GitHub repository. Our galvanostatic MPPT algorithm ensures continuous and accurate tracking of cells with hysteresis. All work related to the development of this device and its code has been deposited as a preprint on arXiv Enhanced Power Point Tracking for High Hysteresis Perovskite Solar Cells: A Galvanostatic Approach and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.

Stay tuned for updates on the groundbreaking innovations from the Perovskino gizmo, as we strive to revolutionize the assessment of operational stability in perovskite solar cells and drive forward the commercialization of this promising technology.

Categories
Research Position

Oferta de trabajo

Zaragoza, 31 de enero de 2023.

Se ofrece un contrato de 24 meses en el grupo de investigación NFP del Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA) dentro del programa INVESTIGO.

Requisitos
  • Grado en Química, Ingeniería química, Física, Ciencia de Materiales o equivalentes. Máster en Ingeniería Química, Nanomateriales o similares (Nivel N3 Universidad de Zaragoza)
  • Menos de 30 años
  • Personas desempleadas e inscritas como demandantes de empleo
  • No haber disfrutado de un contrato de investigación en la Universidad de Zaragoza en los últimos 6 meses.
Tema de trabajo

Desarrollo de nanomateriales para su uso en la eliminación de contaminantes, o patógenos, en aguas contaminadas o en energías limpias (celdas solares de tecnología emergente, sistemas de almacenamiento de energía). La investigación en nuevos nanomateriales permite mejorar las prestaciones y abaratar los costes lo cual se alinea con los objetivos medioambientales y de energías limpias nacionales y europeos.

Tareas a desarrollar
  • Síntesis y caracterización de nanomateriales.
  • Fabricación y caracterización de dispositivos.

Las personas interesadas, deben darse de alta en Portal Único de Empleo EMPLÉATE y ponerse en contacto con María Bernechea (mbernechea@unizar.es), Emilio J. Juarez-Perez (ejjuarezperez@unizar.es) y M. Pilar Lobera (plobera@unizar.es) antes del 10 de febrero.

Categories
Research

EASI project en la bienal de Química 2022

La Real Sociedad Española de Química (RSEQ) celebró su XXXVIII Reunión Bienal en el Palacio de Congresos de Granada entre el 27 de junio y el 30 de junio de 2022. En esta edición estuvimos con el proyecto EASI donde presentamos unos resultados preliminares relacionados con la degradación del catión formamidinio.

Categories
Research Position

Convocatoria plaza de Investigador predoctoral en formación

El proyecto RETOS PID2019-107893RB-I00: Heterounión entre perovskita híbrida y nanocristales
para celda solar con absorción extendida y eficiencia mejorada (EASI) ha sido listado como proyecto financiable con una beca predoctoral en el Programa propio de la Universidad de Zaragoza de contratación de personal predoctoral asociado a proyectos de investigación.

Toda la información en el pdf de este link:

http://www.unizar.es/actualidad/ficheros/20210823/61171/predoctoral_unizar.pdf

Consideraciones importantes para aplicar:

  1. El candidato debe estar en posesión del Título de licenciado, ingeniero, arquitecto, graduado universitario con grado de, al menos, 300 créditos ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) o máster universitario, o equivalente en sistemas universitarios extranjeros no adaptados al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES), en la fecha o rango de fechas que establezca la convocatoria.
  2. Tener una nota media igual o superior a 6 puntos en el expediente académico completo correspondiente a los estudios con los que accede al programa de doctorado (Licenciatura, Grado, etc., y Máster).
  3. Solo 20 días naturales para aplicar tras publicación de convocatoria en el BOA (23-08-21)

Contáctanos si necesitas más información aquí: easi.pvk.agbis2@gmail.com

Categories
Research Position

Iberusexperience Postdoc Position

Our proposal for the Iberus Experience here:

AREA: Materials Science and Technology
SUBAREA: Materials for Energy and Environment
KEYWORDS: NANOMATERIALS SYNTHESIS; NOVEL CATALYSTS; ENERGY; ENVIRONMENT; SECURITY; PHOTOCATALYSIS; SOLAR CELLS AND SENSORS; ADVANCED MICROSCOPY ANALYSIS; ENERGY HARVESTING AND STORAGE; PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS.

How to apply

Contact here: easi.pvk.agbis2@gmail.com

Categories
Research Position

Convocatoria para la recualificación del Sistema Universitario Español

a) Ayudas Margarita Salas para la formación de jóvenes doctores
b) Ayudas para la recualificación del profesorado universitario funcionario o contratado
c) Ayudas María Zambrano para la atracción de talento internacional

Más información y cómo aplicar aquí

Contact here: easi.pvk.agbis2@gmail.com

Categories
Research Position

EoI MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship – Emerging photovoltaics and optoelectronic devices


  • OFFER DEADLINE 15/07/2021 18:30 – Europe/Brussels
  • EU RESEARCH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME HE / MSCA
  • LOCATION Spain, Zaragoza
  • ORGANISATION/COMPANY Aragon Nanoscience and Materials Institute (INMA) / CSIC-University of Zaragoza
  • DEPARTMENT Nanostructured Films & Particles Research Group

Hosting description

The MSCA fellow will develop his/her research at the NFP group facilities (NFP – Nanostructured films and particles, a DGA consolidated group included in Ciber-BBN network).

The activities of the NFP group focus on four research areas:

1) Nanomaterials synthesis,

2) Nanomaterials for energy, environment and security,

3) Novel catalysts and contactors, and

4) Nanomedicine.

The NFP group belongs to the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragon (INMA), CSIC – Universidad de Zaragoza. INMA is an interdisciplinary research institute devoted to R+D in Nanoscience, Nanotechnology and the study of Materials with readily access to the Laboratory of Advanced Microscopies (LMA) at the University of Zaragoza. The fellow will have access to laboratory space, standard laboratory facilities, advanced nanomaterial synthesis facilities and PV characterization techniques.

The supervisors are ascribed to the Nanomaterials for energy, environment and security area, more precisely in solar energy harvesting technologies. At present, they are working together in a national project EASI (https://easi.unizar.es/) that proposes the assembly of a solar cell device containing simultaneously two types of light harvester materials forming a heterojunction. Specifically, EASI proposes to use hybrid halide perovskite and AgBiS2 nanocrystals. The goal is to extend absorption and improve performance compared to devices including solely one type of these light harvesters. It is expected that the better absorptivity coefficient of AgBiS2 nanocrystals compared to perovskite and its extended to infrared radiation absorption would lead to obtain devices with increased external quantum efficiency beyond 800 nm wavelength also taking advantage of the optimum energy band matching between both materials.

SUPERVISORS

Dr. María Bernechea is permanent senior researcher (ARAID) at INMA. Her research interests focus on the development of nanomaterials for clean energies and processes (solar cells, electrochemical storage systems, and photocatalysis). Since 2017, she is principal investigator of 3 national projects, one in collaboration with a company, and 1 European project (also coordinator). Her work has given rise to several presentations in conferences (3 plenary), the publication of more than 35 articles in Q1 international journals (among them 3 Nature family papers), and 2 patents (US9349888-B2, EP2837038-B1). https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2800-6845

Dr. Emilio J. Juarez-Perez is permanent senior researcher (ARAID) at INMA. His research focuses on the exploration of hybrid perovskite materials for optoelectronic applications since 2013. Coeditor of the book “Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells. The Genesis and Early Developments, 2009-2014”. He was awarded as Young B KAKENHI Principal Investigator fellow including competitive funds from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and recently co-PI of the EASI-project in the framework of RETOS-2020 in Spain. https://www.emiliojuarez.es/Projects/

RESEARCH LINE TO EXPLORE

We would be interested in developing research projects focusing on state-of-the-art emerging photovoltaics and optoelectronic devices based on hybrid halide perovskite or nanocrystals, their advanced characterization including modelling of materials and/or devices.

POSTDOC PROFILE

We are looking for highly motivated and talented candidates to apply to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship program with PhD level expertise in emerging photovoltaics (hybrid halide perovskite based or nanocrystals) and related optoelectronic devices.

Please provide a detailed CV and a motivation letter indicating the reasons to join our research group.

Explain the expertise you have reached during your PhD or previous postdoc periods, what you expect from the research activity of the group and the activities of the Institute.

Contact here: easi.pvk.agbis2@gmail.com

Euraxess link

Categories
Research Position

Candidato para solicitar una ayuda FPU

Buscamos candidatos para solicitar una ayuda “Formación de Profesorado universitario (FPU)” para la próxima convocatoria(2020).

El trabajo de investigación se desarrollará en el Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA) CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza ,en el grupo de Películas y partículas nanoestructuradas.

La línea de investigación está sustentada en el proyecto RETOS 2019: EASI – Perovskite-nanocrystal heterojunction solar cells with Extended AbSorption and Improved performance (PID2019-107893RB-I00). Más información sobre el proyecto: easi.unizar.es

IPs: Emilio J. Juarez-Perez & María Bernechea

Requisitos:

–    Licenciados (Grado) en Química, Física o Ingeniería Química.

–    Estar matriculado en un programa de doctorado en una  universidad  española,  o  en  su  defecto,  estar  cursando  un  máster  universitario oficial que dé acceso a un programa de doctorado.

–    Nota media mínima del expediente académico de la titulación del Grado de 8.4.

Interesados enviar CV y calificaciones académicas al email: 

easi.pvk.agbis2@gmail.com

ejjuarezperez@unizar.es

mbernechea@unizar.es

Categories
Research

The EASI research project has already kicked off

PID2019-107893RB-I00: Heterounión entre perovskita híbrida y nanocristales para celda solar con absorción extendida y eficiencia mejorada

Proyecto Retos 2019 financiado por la AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACIÓN.

Categories
Research

Goals & Hypothesis

The EASI project proposes the assemble of a solar cell device containing simultaneously two types of light harvester materials forming a heterojunction.Specifically, EASI proposes to use hybrid halide perovskite and AgBiS2 nanocrystals.The goal is to extended absorption and improve performance compared to devices including solely one type of these light harvesters.

Hypothesis

It is expected that the better absorptivity coefficient of AgBiS2 nanocrystals compared to perovskite and its extended to infrared radiation absorption would lead to obtain devices with increased external quantum efficiency beyond 800 nm wavelength also taking advantage of the optimum energy band matching between both materials. Moreover, it has been described that the introduction of nanocrystals in perovskite-based solar cells increases their stability and hence lifetime.