Perovskites for Solar and Thermal Energy Harvesting: State of the Art Technologies, Current Scenario and Future Directions (1705.05529v1)

Abstract: Solar energy is anticipated to be the most viable source of sustainable green energy. Perovskites have gained significant research attention in recent years as a solar energy harvesting material due to their desirable photovoltaic enabling properties. The potential strategies for a more effective use of these materials can involve multiple energy conversion mechanisms through a single device or employing materials where a solar or thermal input provides multiple electrical outputs to enhance the overall energy harvesting capability. In this context, the present review focuses on perovskites, including both organic halide perovskites and inorganic oxide perovskites, due to their proven properties as photovoltaic materials and their intriguing potential for additional functionality, such as ferroelectricity. Ferroelectrics are a special class of perovskites that have been studied in detail for photoferroic, pyroelectric and thermoelectric effects and energy storage, which we briefly review here. Furthermore, the possibilities of simultaneously tuning these mechanisms in perovskite materials for multiple energy conversion mechanisms and storage for ultra-high density capacitor and battery applications is also examined in order to attain a better understanding and to present novel opportunities. An understanding of all these mechanisms and device prospects will inspire and inform the selection of appropriate materials and potential novel designs so that the available solar and thermal resource could be utilized in a more effective manner. This review will not only help in selecting an appropriate material from the existing pool of perovskite materials, but will also provide an outlook and assistance to researchers in developing new material systems.

• The paper presents comprehensive insights on perovskite materials enabling integrated solar and thermal energy harvesting through multifunctional conversion mechanisms.
• It details advanced material optimizations including mixed halide compositions and novel deposition techniques that enhance device stability and scalability.
• The study highlights potential energy storage applications, demonstrating perovskites’ role in supercapacitors and battery technologies for next-generation systems.

Overview of Perovskite Materials in Energy Harvesting Technologies

The paper "Perovskites for Solar and Thermal Energy Harvesting: State of the Art Technologies, Current Scenario and Future Directions" offers a comprehensive review of perovskite materials with an emphasis on their application in solar and thermal energy harvesting. This analysis considers different perovskite compositions, specifically organic halide and inorganic oxide perovskites, which possess unique properties advantageous for energy conversion processes.

Perovskites have become a significant area of interest due to their versatile crystal structure, allowing them to engage in multiple energy conversion mechanisms, notably within the domain of photovoltaics. Researchers have leveraged perovskites' intrinsic properties, such as ferroelectricity, in a bid to develop multifunctional devices that can deploy multiple outputs from a single energy input.

Solar Energy Harvesting with Perovskites

The progression within solar cell development, particularly perovskite solar cells, is charted from early organometallic perovskite photovoltaic responses to enhanced efficiencies achieved through material optimizations, such as mixed halide implementations and structural modifications. This advancement has brought efficiencies of perovskite cells on par with traditional silicon solar cells, with the potential to surpass them.

Critically, the paper highlights the scalability and manufacturability of perovskite solar technologies as favorable, especially with the development of new deposition techniques that improve film morphology and stability without significantly increasing production complexity.

Thermal Energy and Multimodal Harvesting

Perovskite materials' pyroelectric and thermoelectric effects are explored as means of harvesting thermal energy. The paper explores the design of perovskite materials that can exploit these two effects concurrently with photovoltaic processes, thereby optimizing the conversion of thermal gradients into electrical energy.

The Olsen cycle is emphasized as a critical thermal-to-electricity conversion method, enabled by the physical properties of perovskites. Additionally, the potential for ferroelectric perovskites to serve as thermoelectric generators is considered promising, though it is noted that practical adoption would require overcoming barriers such as material stability and electron-phonon interactions.

Energy Storage Applications

The capacitive and pseudo-capacitive characteristics of perovskite materials have been identified as areas for energy storage, particularly in supercapacitor applications. Issues such as high electronic conductivity and lossiness in traditional dielectric setups have been acknowledged. Despite this, hybrid halide perovskites show significant promise as advanced electrode materials due to their high surface area and ionic mobility.

Moreover, the paper discusses opportunities to deploy perovskite materials in battery technologies, focusing on their potential as anode materials in solid-state applications. Adaptive strategies involving grain boundary engineering and compositional tuning are suggested to enhance cycling stability and storage capacity.

Implications and Future Directions

The comprehensive overview illustrates how a strategic blend of perovskite material properties can usher in new technological paradigms in energy harvesting. The synthesis of different energy functionalities within a single perovskite matrix provides a revolutionary progression toward achieving high-efficiency, multi-functional energy devices.

Going forward, the development of lead-free and more environmentally benign perovskite compositions represents a crucial frontier. By continuing to address the stability and scalability issues of perovskite materials while balancing their electrical and optical properties, the paper positions perovskites at the forefront of next-generation energy solutions.

In conclusion, the paper provides a roadmap for researchers to explore novel materials systems enabling multifaceted energy harvesting solutions. Researchers and industry stakeholders are encouraged to pursue integrative strategies that combine thermal, photovoltaic, and electrochemical mechanisms, notably within perovskite materials, to fully exploit their energy conversion capabilities on a commercial scale.