Abstract:

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have rapidly emerged as a leading photovoltaic technology due to their high efficiency and low-cost fabrication. Despite this progress, their long-term stability remains limited, largely due to defects and instabilities at the interfaces between layers in the device. In this talk, we will show how quantum dots (QDs) can be used as versatile tools for engineering these interfaces and improving both performance and stability. Two complementary approaches are explored. In the first, CdS QDs are introduced at the buried interface between the electron transport layer (SnO₂) and the perovskite absorber. This modification reduces interfacial defects, improves film growth, and facilitates charge extraction, leading to more efficient and stable devices. In the second approach, perovskite QDs are applied at the top interface of the perovskite layer. Using photoluminescence measurements, a dynamic halide exchange process is observed at this interface, which plays an important role in defect passivation and in reducing recombination losses. In addition, QDs help align the energy levels between layers and act as a protective barrier against moisture. Together, these results demonstrate how quantum dots can act as “interface architects,” enabling better control over key processes in perovskite solar cells and contributing to the development of more robust and efficient device.

Speaker:

João Victor Thomas Feyh is a Chemical Engineer graduated from the State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC). He holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, where he focused on hydrogen production from Steam Reforming of Ethanol. Currently a PhD candidate at Unicamp, he is completing a research period as a visiting scholar at THI (Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt). His doctoral work centers on developing data-driven Digital Twin models for electrolyzers. Through his research, João seeks to understand how these systems age over time and extract crucial metrics, such as the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCoH) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), to drive the future of sustainable green energy.

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