Wydarzenia

Seminarium Fizyki Politechniki Wrocławskiej

Mechanochemical Engineering of Halide Perovskites and ZnO QDs for Game Changing Advances in Light Harvesting and Energy Storage

Prof. Janusz Lewiński

Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology & Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) represent one of the most rapidly advancing directions in next generation photovoltaics, with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) now exceeding 27%. This remarkable progress is driven by continuous advances in materials design and device engineering, with particular emphasis on optimizing both the perovskite absorber layer and the electron transporting layer (ETL). The synthesis of metal halide perovskites (MHPs) has traditionally relied on solution-based methods, which, despite their versatility, impose limitations on compositional control and long-term material stability. To overcome these challenges, we pioneered a solvent-free mechanochemical approach based on solid-state grinding,[1] enabling access to phase-pure MHP compositions unattainable via conventional wet chemistry. Notably, PSCs fabricated from these “mechanoperovskites” exhibit superior photovoltaic performance compared to their solution processed counterparts, highlighting the transformative potential of this methodology. 

ZnO is a highly promising ETL material for thin-film photovoltaics. However, its poor chemical compatibility with perovskites has hindered the development of efficient and stable devices. We  have addressed this limitation by developing innovative organometallic routes to high-quality ZnO QDs.[2,3] As a result, PSCs employing ligand-free, low-temperature-processable ZnO QDs achieve PCEs of 20.05% without interfacial passivation, representing state-of-the-art performance for non-passivated ZnO-based devices. Furthermore, zwitterion-capped ZnO QDs enable even higher efficiencies (up to 21.9%) while delivering enhanced device stability.[3,4]

In parallel, MHPs as prototypical soft ionic lattices are emerging as unconventional conversion-type electrodes for energy storage, where halide identity controls electrochemical transformation pathways, interfacial reconstruction, and ion transport, enabling composition-programmed functionality in these dynamic systems.[5,6]

Together, these results demonstrate that mechanochemical engineering, combined with advanced nanomaterials design, provides a unifying strategy for tailoring functional materials across both light-harvesting and energy-storage technologies. Finally, current challenges and future research directions in this rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field will be discussed.