Perovskite Solar Cell Adsorbent Layer for Lead Leakage Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Perovskite solar cells are inherently unstable to oxygen and moisture, leading to potential environmental and health hazards due to leakage of toxic metals like lead, which poses challenges in waste management and end-of-life disposal.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a Metal Organic Framework (MOF)/organic polymer composite material within the solar cell module to act as an adsorbent, capturing lead ions in case of damage or leakage, thereby reducing the risk of toxic material release into the environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If perovskite solar cells are used to achieve high efficiency, then energy conversion performance is improved, but risk of toxic material leakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy conversion efficiencyVSAvoidtoxic material leakage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An adsorbent material is introduced as an intermediary component within the solar cell structure. This material acts as a mediator that captures and retains toxic metals (lead, tin) that may leak from the perovskite layer, preventing their release into the environment while allowing the solar cell to maintain its high efficiency functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The adsorbent material utilizes porous structures with high surface area and controlled pore sizes to effectively adsorb and trap toxic metal ions. The porous architecture provides numerous active sites for binding toxic materials while maintaining the overall integrity and functionality of the solar cell module.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If adsorbent material is integrated to prevent toxic material leakage, then environmental safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetoxic material leakage preventionVSAvoidmodule structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adsorbent material is merged with existing solar cell components such as the encapsulation layers, substrate, or back contact. By integrating the safety function into already-present structural elements, the design avoids adding separate complex subsystems while still achieving effective toxic material capture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Existing solar cell components are designed to serve multiple functions: their primary function (e.g., encapsulation, support) is maintained while simultaneously incorporating adsorbent properties for toxic material capture. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for dedicated separate safety components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The MOF/organic polymer composite effectively traps lead ions, significantly reducing their concentration in environmental solutions, meeting safe drinking water standards even after multiple treatments, and maintaining efficacy under various environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

an adsorbent material... Metal Organic Framework (MOF)/organic polymer composite material... trapping lead ions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP4076733B1Perovskite solar cell provided with an adsorbent material for adsorbing toxic materials
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
  • EP4076733B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP4076733B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~3A
  • EP4076733B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~3D

AI summary

The present invention concerns a perovskite solar cell provided with a polymer-porous template composite material for absorbing toxic metal ions. Preferably, the porous template material is a metal oxide framework (MOF) material. An example of a preferred polymer- porous template composite material is PDA-Fe-BTC (polydopamine-Fe1,3,5- benzenetricarboxylate). In experiments mimicking breakage of the solar cell modules, the presence of the polymer-MOF material was shown to result in the capture of lead and thus to reduced leakage of lead.