Design of Halide Perovskite Photonic Crystals for Solar Energy Conversion

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Harun Tüysüz
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 429229125

In the last decade, there has been a growing interest and need for sustainable clean energy owing to the shortage of fossil fuels and arising environmental issues. Solar energy has gained noteworthy interest since it has the potential to provide enormous amounts of energy required by the increasing population and economic expansion of the world. In spite of decades of research, a material that fulfills all the technical and economic requirements for effective solar energy conversion has not been discovered yet. Thus, novel materials are needed to be designed and engineered. In this project, I propose an unconventional approach for designing an integrated perovskite photonic crystal system for solar energy conversion. The unique innovative concept is based on the design of halide perovskites with photonic crystal structure in powder and thin film morphologies through a mild templating approach. The key goals of the project are the preparation of novel well-defined nanostructured perovskites and their detailed characterization to understand how periodic structuring can enhance the performance of perovskite solar cells. Single crystalline perovskite photonic crystals that have less structural defects and crystal grain boundaries will be attempted to prepare as well. In order to enhance the stability of the halide perovskites and contact between perovskite and hole transfer layers, a pioneering device fabrication strategy that is based on the photocatalytic polymerization/deposition of the hole transfer layer on perovskite will be investigated. Unique properties like periodically well-ordered morphology, light trapping ability and longer optical path of photonic crystal within organometal trihalide perovskite materials will create a distinctive photovoltaic device and allow its efficiency to go beyond the state of the art.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants