Mischaracterization of so lar cell power conversion efficiencies and widespread publication of inconsistent data in scientific journals th reate ns to undermine progress in orga nic and hybrid photovoltaics research.
The field of thin-film photovoltaics has been recently enriched by the introduction of lead halide perovskites as absorber materials, which allow low-cost synthesis of solar cells with efficiencies exceeding 16%. The exact impact of the perovskite crystal structure and composition on the optoelectronic properties of the material are not fully understood. Our progress report highlights the knowledge gained about lead halide perovskites with a focus on physical and optoelectronic properties. We discuss the crystal and band structure of perovskite materials currently implemented in solar cells and the impact of the crystal properties on ferroelectricity, ambipolarity, and the properties of excitons.
Low‐cost hybrid solar cells have made tremendous steps forward during the past decade owing to the implementation of extremely thin inorganic coatings as absorber layers, typically in combination with organic hole transporters. Using only extremely thin films of these absorbers reduces the requirement of single crystalline high‐quality materials and paves the way for low‐cost solution processing compatible with roll‐to‐roll fabrication processes. To date, the most efficient absorber material, except for the recently introduced organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites, has been Sb2S3, which can be implemented in hybrid photovoltaics using a simple chemical bath deposition. Current high‐efficiency Sb2S3 devices utilize absorber coatings on nanostructured TiO2 electrodes in combination with polymeric hole transporters. This geometry has so far been the state of the art, even though flat junction devices would be conceptually simpler with the additional potential of higher open circuit voltages due to reduced charge carrier recombination. Besides, the role of the hole transporter is not completely clarified yet. In particular, additional photocurrent contribution from the polymers has not been directly shown, which points toward detrimental parasitic light absorption in the polymers. This study presents a fine‐tuned chemical bath deposition method that allows fabricating solution‐processed low‐cost flat junction Sb2S3 solar cells with the highest open circuit voltage reported so far for chemical bath devices and efficiencies exceeding 4%. Characterization of back‐illuminated solar cells in combination with transfer matrix‐based simulations further allows to address the issue of absorption losses in the hole transport material and outline a pathway toward more efficient future devices.
Natural seismic events have been detected by the long‐period seismometers at Apollo stations 16, 14, 15, and 12 at annual rates of 3300, 1700, 800, and 700, respectively, with peak activity at 13‐ to 14‐day intervals. Repetitive moonquakes from 41 hypocenters produce seismograms characteristic of each. About 90% of the long‐period signals are from these and other numerous, less active hypocenters, and meteoroid impact signals account for the remainder. At each hypocenter, moonquakes occur only within an active period of a few days during a characteristic phase of the monthly lunar tidal cycle. An episode of activity may contain up to four quakes from one hypocenter. Nearly equal numbers of hypocenters are active at opposite phases of the monthly cycle, accounting for the 14‐day peaks in total lunar seismic activity. A period of about 206 days in the seismic activity of several of the hypocenters is superimposed on a strong one‐to two‐year trend where the signal amplitudes decrease to the instrumental detection threshold. A 206‐day period with no secular decrease in amplitude is also observed in the total lunar seismic activity, suggesting that the total number of active hypocenters does not vary appreciably with time. Moonquake magnitudes range between 0.5 and 1.3 on the Richter scale with a total energy release estimated to be about 1011 ergs annually. With several possible exceptions, the moonquake foci located to date occur in two narrow belts on the near side of the moon. Both belts are 100–300 km wide, about 2000 km long, and 800–1000 km deep, and they lie along great‐circle arcs. Seismic data from a far‐side focus and a large far‐side meteoroid impact define the base of the lunar lithosphere at a depth of about 1000 km. In our present model the rigid lithosphere overlies an asthenosphere of reduced rigidity in which present‐day partial melting is probable. Tidal deformation presumably leads to critical stress concentrations at the base of the lithosphere, where moonquakes are found to occur. The striking tidal periodicities in the pattern of moonquake occurrence and energy release suggest that tidal energy is the dominant source of energy released as moonquakes. Thus, tidal energy is dissipated by moonquakes in the lithosphere and probably by inelastic processes in the asthenosphere. The low level of seismicity and the absence of shallow seismicity implies that the moon is neither expanding nor contracting at an appreciable rate. The secular accumulation of strain implied by the uniform polarities of moonquake signals may result from weak convection in the asthenosphere or from secular recession of the moon from the earth.
Seismometer operation for 21 days at Tranquillity Base revealed, among strong signals produced by the Apollo 11 lunar module descent stage, a small proportion of probable natural seismic signals. The latter are long-duration, emergent oscillations which lack the discrete phases and coherence of earthquake signals. From similarity with the impact signal of the Apollo 12 ascent stage, they are thought to be produced by meteoroid impacts or shallow moonquakes. This signal character may imply transmission with high Q and intense wave scattering, conditions which are mutually exclusive on earth. Natural background noise is very much smaller than on earth, and lunar tectonism may be very low.
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