Low bandgap, stable, non-toxic perovskite for inexpensive and efficient photovoltaics
Stable, lead free perovskite for photovoltaic applications; uses inexpensive and highly abundant element Highly efficient in converting solar energy to electricity due to the material’s small bandgap of 1eV Thermal and moisture exposure studies demonstrate long-term structural and photo-physical stability
Highlights
- Stable, lead free perovskite for photovoltaic applications; uses inexpensive and highly abundant element
- Highly efficient in converting solar energy to electricity due to the material’s small bandgap of 1eV
- Thermal and moisture exposure studies demonstrate long-term structural and photo-physical stability
Opportunity
Perovskites are composite materials typically having a cubic or tetragonal crystal structure with the stoichiometry of AMX3, where A and M are metal cations and X is an anion. Hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites have prompted global research due to their potential use in solar cell technologies. Despite their promising electronic properties and low production costs for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications, commercialization of lead halide perovskites has been hindered by their instability as well as by long term health and environmental concerns mostly related to leaching of lead due to their water solubility. An attractive alternative are all inorganic double perovskties. However, the absorption profile of most double perovskites reported to date have bandgaps greater than 2eV making them much less efficient than the silicon (Si) alternative. To address these shortcomings, the University of Alberta inventors have synthesized a lead free, inexpensive and highly abundant element, heterovalent Cu2+ doping analogue of Cs2SbAgCl6 with a bandgap of 1eV. The material’s feasibility for photovoltaic applications was further examined through thermal and moisture exposure, demonstrating long term structural and photo-physical stability.
Competitive advantage
- Lead free, therefor environmentally friendly
- Highly stable - structural and photo-physical stability of material has been demonstrated for 1 year
- Less expensive to make than crystalline Si; resulting in lower cost end products
- Highly efficient in converting solar energy to electricity due to the material’s small bandgap of 1eV
- Can be applied with versatility on to any kind of surface including flexible surfaces.
Status
- Patent pending United States
About University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a large, comprehensive public research university in Edmonton with multiple campuses and a strong applied research culture. Industry engages through co-located labs and pilot-scale facilities, as well as established co-op and internship programs that place talent with partners year-round. Integration with Alberta’s province-wide hospital system supports clinical research and accelerates translation. Companies also benefit from proximity to regional industry clusters and collaboration hubs on and near campus for joint R&D and prototyping. Supported by NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, and Canada Foundation for Innovation funding—plus provincial and industry support—the tech transfer office manages IP, licensing, and startup formation with streamlined sponsored-research agreements.
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