• The chemical companies Dyenamo and Lumtec, which specialise in solar energy, are commercialising the molecule EADR03, which was developed by researchers in the Palomares Group at ICIQ, a BIST community research centre.
• The molecule has revolutionalised the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells, and will be sold worldwide.
From ICIQ laboratories to the global market; This is the journey taken by the molecule EADR03, developed in 2021 by the Palomares Group at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, and published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science. The Swedish chemical company Dyenamo has joined the Taiwanese company Lumtec to commercialise the ICIQ molecule worldwide, thanks to its exceptional performance in solar energy production. Both companies are specialised in state-of-the-art materials for research and industrialisation, particularly in the fields of dye-sensitised solar cells, perovskite solar cells, light emitting diodes, and solar fuels. The companies are now selling the molecules under the commercial names DN-X32 and LT-S9583, respectively.
The novel molecule, whose full name is 4-(3,6-bis(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzoic acid, is capable of forming self-assembled monolayers, serving as hole-selective contact in solar cell devices and enhancing its efficiency. This molecule not only facilitates hole transport but also blocks undesired back-donation of electrons. Furthermore, its capability to passivate surface defects is remarkable.
EADR03 has a modified bulky carbazole as its main part. By adding two 1,3-dimethoxy benzene units to the carbazole, it aligns well with the perovskite absorber film in the solar cell and also makes it more soluble. This has revolutionised the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells, enabling them to maintain an impressive 80% of their initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21% over a 250-hour period at 85°C under 1 sun illumination.
The molecule not only elevates solar cell efficiency but also paves the way for a greener and cleaner future. ICIQ’s dedication to sustainable research and the expertise of Dyenamo and Lumtec in commercialising cutting-edge materials are contributing to an eco-friendlier world.
Reference article:
Aktas, E.; Phung, N.; Köbler, H.; González, D. A.; Méndez, M.; Kafedjiska, I.; Turren-Cruz, S. H.; Wenisch, R.; Lauermann, I.; Abate, A.; Palomares, E. “Understanding the perovskite/self-assembled selective contact interface for ultra-stable and highly efficient p–i–n perovskite solar cells”. Energy Environ. Sci. 2021, 14, 3976-3985, DOI: 10.1039/D0EE03807E.
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