Researchers affiliated with the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) have achieved a significant breakthrough in the development of perovskite solar cells capable of converting artificial light into electricity with high efficiency. The study, conducted within the scope of Center for Innovation in New Energies (CINE)This directly involves research activities at the postgraduate level and reinforces Unicamp's leading role at the forefront of knowledge in renewable energies.
The work was developed in collaboration with scientists from Italy and resulted in devices with performance close to international records for applications in indoor environments, such as homes, businesses, and industries. The research has the potential to enable the supply of clean and renewable energy to low-power electronic equipment, reducing or eliminating the need for batteries.
Scientific innovation with strong participation from postgraduate studies.
The study was led by Francineide Lopes de Araújo, postdoctoral researcher at CINE and collaborating professor, under the supervision of the full professor. Ana Flavia Nogueira, from Chemistry Institute (IQ-Unicamp). The research integrates advanced postgraduate training activities and demonstrates how Unicamp's scientific output directly contributes to technological solutions with economic and social impact.
Published in the scientific journal nano-energyThe work presents an innovative surface treatment for perovskite solar cells, capable of overcoming one of the main challenges of indoor photovoltaic technology: low light intensity. Under typical artificial lighting conditions (between 200 and 1.000 lux), the developed modules achieved efficiencies of around 34%, a value considered among the highest reported in the scientific literature.
Technology developed at Unicamp
The innovation consists of depositing a mixture of the organic salt phenethylammonium iodide (PEAI) with the additive 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) onto the active perovskite layer. This process leads to the spontaneous formation of a two-dimensional layer over the three-dimensional perovskite, reducing surface defects and improving electrical charge transport.
An important distinguishing feature of the methodology is that the process takes place at room temperature, without the need for additional heat treatments. This feature increases the potential for industrial scalability and reduces manufacturing costs, strategic aspects for the future commercial application of the technology.
The strategy was successfully applied in the manufacture of devices at different scales, from small-area solar cells to modules of up to 121 cm², composed of up to 15 subcells connected in series.
International cooperation and advanced training
Part of the research was conducted during Francineide Lopes de Araújo's postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy (CHOSE) at the Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy, between 2022 and 2023, with support from FAPESP through a Research Internship Abroad Grant (BEPE). International collaboration was fundamental for carrying out advanced experiments and validating the developed devices.
The scientific guidance for the work was shared between Professor Ana Flávia Nogueira, an international reference in the field of emerging solar cells and current director of CINE, and Professor Aldo Di Carlo, founder of CHOSE, one of the world's leading research centers for perovskite photovoltaics.
Scientific and institutional impact
The results reinforce the relevance of the research developed in Unicamp's postgraduate programs and highlight the institution's ability to lead strategic projects in partnership with international centers of excellence. In addition to expanding scientific knowledge about perovskite solar cells, the study contributes to bringing this technology closer to commercial applications, especially in the growing market for indoor photovoltaics, valued at approximately US$1,2 trillion.
The research was funded by FAPESP and Shell, with strategic support from the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), as well as resources from European agencies.
The scientific article entitled Empowering perovskite modules for solar and indoor lighting applications by 1,8-diiodooctane/phenethylammonium iodide 2D perovskite passivation strategy It is available on the ScienceDirect platform.
This initiative reaffirms the role of Unicamp's postgraduate programs in generating high-impact knowledge, training highly qualified researchers, and developing innovative solutions to contemporary energy challenges.
