The work of the Palomares group focuses on hybrid molecular photovoltaic devices, such as perovskite-based solar cells. This new technology is evolving rapidly thanks to its excellent properties to transform sunlight into electrical current. Now, two papers on perovskite-based solar cells published in Energy Environmental Science by the Palomares and Vidal groups have been highlighted as HOT papers in 2019 by the journal’s editorial board. The papers will be free to access until the end of July.

Both papers delve into the inner workings of perovskite based-solar cells. On the first hot paper, researchers explain how impedance spectroscopy helps understand the energetic landscape of perovskite solar cells.

Ionic-to-electronic current amplification in hybrid perovskite solar cells: ionically gated transistor-interface circuit model explains hysteresis and impedance of mixed conducting devices Moia, I. Gelmetti, P. Calado, W. Fisher, M. Stringer, O. S Game, Y. Hu, P. Docampo, D. George Lidzey, E. J. Palomares, J. Nelson, P. R. F. Barnes. Energy Environ. Sci. 2019, DOI: 10.1039/C8EE02362J.

In this work, the ICIQ researchers look in detail at the interfaces in perovskite solar cells to understand the differences observed in their performance. The results indicate that surfaces and interfaces created in the solar cell stack have a crucial role in the functional device performances, which will help rationalize the design of the components of cells.

Energy Alignment and Recombination in Perovskite Solar Cells: Weighted Influence on the Open Circuit Voltage Gelmetti, N. Montcada, A. Perez-Rodriguez, E. Barrena, C. Ocal, I. Garcia, A. Molina Ontoria, M. Nazario, A. Vidal-Ferran, E. J. Palomares. Energy Environ. Sci. 2019, 12, 1309-1316, DOI: 10.1039/C9EE00528E.