Oxford-based partnership to develop all-perovskite cell
UK-based perovskite firm Oxford PV has announced a five year research project with the University of Oxford to develop a thin-film multi-junction perovskite solar cell, with a target 37 percent efficiency and long term stability.
The £5 Million collaboration has been awarded £2.5 Million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of its Prosperity Partnerships programme, with the remainder matched by Oxford PV. The EPSRC grant is designed to support long term, research-based partnerships between business and universities, with national and global importance.
From the University of Oxford, both the Photovoltaic and Optoelectronic Device Research Group led by Professor Henry Snaith (Oxford PV's Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder), and the Semiconductor Research Group led by Professor Laura Herz, will form the partnership with Oxford PV.
Chris Case, CTO at Oxford PV commented, "Oxford PV's commercial focus remains firmly on its two-terminal perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cell technology. We have made significant progress in this respect. Today, commercial sized perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cells are in production at our pilot line and we are optimising equipment and processes in preparation for commercial deployment.
"Oxford PV is always exploring new ways to push the boundaries in perovskite solar cell technology development "“ this new initiative with Oxford University is one such project. Longer term, providing the PV industry with a low cost solar cell technology that could reach an efficiency level of nearly 40 percent, is an exciting prospect that would further transform global solar energy generation "“ helping drive the world toward an all-electric future."
In June, Oxford PV set a world record certified efficiency of 27.3 percent for its perovskite-on-silicon solar cell. This exceeded the 26.7 percent efficiency world record for a single junction silicon solar cell "“ further validating the ability of perovskite to enhance the performance of silicon-based photovoltaics. Oxford PV's perovskite-on-silicon solar cell technology roadmap extends beyond 30 percent efficiency.
