Speaker: Prof. Nam-Gyu Park, professer from the Sungkyunkwan University

Title: Discovery and Progress of Perovskite Solar Cells

Time: 15:30 August 28th, 2025 (Thursday)

Venue: No.3 conference room on the 3rd floor, Building No.5

Host: Prof. Huiqiong Zhou

Abstract：

Meeting the escalating global electricity demand on the order of several tens of terawatts without carbon dioxide emission requires solar cell technologies that simultaneously deliver high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and low cost per peak watt. Prior to the discovery of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), only a few material systems fulfilled both criteria. This presentation outlines the evolution of solid-state PSCs, beginning with early photovoltaic concepts and progressing to the development of stable, high-performance devices. Initial studies employing quantum dot absorbers such as nanocrystalline PbS demonstrated promising optoelectronic properties but suffered from severe surface-defect-mediated recombination. To overcome these limitations, methylammonium lead triiodide (MAPbI3) was introduced as an alternative light harvester. However, its application as a sensitizer in liquid-electrolyte-based architectures yielded low efficiencies (~3–4% in 2009) and rapid dissolution. A decisive breakthrough occurred in 2012, when MAPbI3 integrated with a solid-state hole-transporting material enabled a PCE of 9.7% with stability exceeding 500 h, thereby establishing perovskites as viable photovoltaic absorbers. Since then, rapid advances have elevated certified efficiencies beyond 27% using formamidinium-based compositions (FAPbI3), positioning PSCs among the most efficient photovoltaic technologies. Current research focuses on overcoming long-term stability and lead immobilization challenges, while tandem architectures with silicon or all-perovskite configurations expand prospects for both terrestrial deployment and space applications. Collectively, these developments highlight PSCs as one of the most promising candidates for sustainable, next-generation energy-transition technologies.