A research team from Konkuk University has identified the cause of irreversible damage to perovskite solar cells due to proton irradiation for the first time, proving that a thin polyphenylene-C barrier can prevent such damage.
Key points
•Perovskite solar cell irreversible damage cause identified
•Proton irradiation effect analysis based on energy and dose
•Ultra-lightweight polyphenylene-C barrier for protection
Konkuk University's Professor Im Wan-jong and his research team have identified the cause of irreversible damage to perovskite solar cells caused by proton irradiation. They designed an ultra-lightweight polyphenylene-C barrier that can block this type of radiation, protecting the cell’s performance. The findings were published in the international journal 'Advanced Energy Materials'.
The team analyzed the location and critical points of performance degradation based on the energy of the protons and the cumulative irradiation dose. They found that 20 keV protons affect the surface layer, 50 keV protons cause atomic displacement in the light-absorbing layer, and 190 keV protons induce damage throughout the device.
By analyzing the degradation paths caused by X-rays versus protons, the team applied the polyphenylene-C barrier to protect the cell’s performance. The barrier is effective for about 13.5 years at an altitude of approximately 2000 km in low Earth orbit with a thickness of 1-6 micrometers.
