A team of Russian and Italian researchers have successfully developed a new type of Perovskite PV cell which utilizes a special nano material known as MXene to increase its performance. According to the researchers, the use of MXene can boost the efficiency of the PV cells for electric charge conversion by as much as 20%.

The conversion rates of the mainstream Peroskite PV cells is currently at around 25.2%, which is up from the mere 3.8% from 2009. Unlike traditional PV cells, these specially designed cells are known to have a relatively lower production cost and simpler production methods. They are also known to work well with pliable substrates for application in buildings.

As the problems of their lead content and low stability are still unresolved, these special PV cells have yet to be widely adopted.

The research team behind the newly developed Perovskite PV cell consists of researchers at NUST MISIS of Russia and the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Aldo Di Carlo, the professor at the latter university, and a member of the research team, points out that with a unique two-dimensional structure, the MXene material can successfully adjust the surface functions of Peroskites to help it become optimal for solar energy.

MXene is generally known to have a similar structure to grapheme, as well as a number of rich physical and chemical properties, which underscores its potential for applications in battery and optoelectronics.

The research team has found that the addition of a small amount of MXene to various layers of Peroskite PV cells can boost the latter’s efficiency by over 25%.