Dr. Jason Baxter and Dr. Aaron Fafarman were awarded an NSF grant for research titled, "Collaborative Research: SusCHEM: Environmental Sustainability of Lead Perovskite Solar Cells.” The last five years have seen an unprecedented rise in the efficiencies of lead-based organometal halide perovskite solar cells, which now exceed 22% and match the best thin film device technologies that have been developed over several decades. The record device efficiencies, earth-abundant constituent elements, and potential for low-cost processing have led to great enthusiasm for this technology and hopes of rapid commercialization. However, the necessity of using acutely toxic lead has caused concern. Current opinion within industry, academia and government ranges from the assertion that any use of lead is unacceptable to the belief that the lead intensity will be small and the risks minimal. Given this dichotomy, the primary objectives of this project are: (1) to assess the environmental sustainability of lead halide perovskite photovoltaics (PVs), and (2) to apply this assessment to inform and direct future research, development, and manufacturing approaches related to perovskite PVs.
Drexel University will receive $200,000 during the period of July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2020. This is a collaborative award with Professor Sabrina Spatari (Drexel, Environmental Engineering) and Dr. Vasilis Fthenakis (Columbia University).
Read Full Abstract here: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1704957&HistoricalAwards=false