Researchers design photo-rechargeable lead-free perovskite batteries
Researchers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed an inexpensive, lightweight, and lead-free photo-battery that has dual functions in harvesting solar energy and storing energy on a single device. This could enable users to charge a battery under the sun, without having to plug the device into the wall.
Despite the theoretical potential of such photo-batteries, in reality it seems that the poor interface between materials tends to create problems with charge transport, greatly reducing the efficiency in comparison to the simple system of a solar cell wired to an external battery. A team led by Prof. Jonathan Eugene Halpert, Assistant Professor from the Department of Chemistry at HKUST, has made advancements towards developing more efficient photo-batteries by using perovskites.