Switchable photovoltaic windows enabled by reversible photothermal complex dissociation from methylammonium lead iodide
Abstract
Materials with switchable absorption properties have been widely used for smart window applications to reduce energy consumption and enhance occupant comfort in buildings. In this work, we combine the benefits of smart windows with energy conversion by producing a photovoltaic device with a switchable absorber layer that dynamically responds to sunlight. Upon illumination, photothermal heating switches the absorber layer - composed of a metal halide perovskite-methylamine complex - from a transparent state (68% visible transmittance) to an absorbing, photovoltaic colored state (less than 3% visible transmittance) due to dissociation of methylamine. After cooling, the methylamine complex is re-formed, returning the absorber layer to the transparent state in which the device acts as a window to visible light. The thermodynamics of switching and performance of the device are described. In conclusion, this work validates a photovoltaic window technology that circumvents the fundamental tradeoff between efficient solar conversion and high visible light transmittance that limits conventional semitransparent PV window designs.
- Authors:
-
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), NREL Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1413185
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5900-68407
Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Nature Communications
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 8; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; energy harvesting; solar cells; photovoltaic materials
Citation Formats
Wheeler, Lance M., Moore, David T., Ihly, Rachelle, Stanton, Noah J., Miller, Elisa M., Tenent, Robert C., Blackburn, Jeffrey L., and Neale, Nathan R.. Switchable photovoltaic windows enabled by reversible photothermal complex dissociation from methylammonium lead iodide. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1038/s41467-017-01842-4.
Wheeler, Lance M., Moore, David T., Ihly, Rachelle, Stanton, Noah J., Miller, Elisa M., Tenent, Robert C., Blackburn, Jeffrey L., & Neale, Nathan R.. Switchable photovoltaic windows enabled by reversible photothermal complex dissociation from methylammonium lead iodide. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01842-4
Wheeler, Lance M., Moore, David T., Ihly, Rachelle, Stanton, Noah J., Miller, Elisa M., Tenent, Robert C., Blackburn, Jeffrey L., and Neale, Nathan R.. Thu .
"Switchable photovoltaic windows enabled by reversible photothermal complex dissociation from methylammonium lead iodide". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01842-4. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1413185.
@article{osti_1413185,
title = {Switchable photovoltaic windows enabled by reversible photothermal complex dissociation from methylammonium lead iodide},
author = {Wheeler, Lance M. and Moore, David T. and Ihly, Rachelle and Stanton, Noah J. and Miller, Elisa M. and Tenent, Robert C. and Blackburn, Jeffrey L. and Neale, Nathan R.},
abstractNote = {Materials with switchable absorption properties have been widely used for smart window applications to reduce energy consumption and enhance occupant comfort in buildings. In this work, we combine the benefits of smart windows with energy conversion by producing a photovoltaic device with a switchable absorber layer that dynamically responds to sunlight. Upon illumination, photothermal heating switches the absorber layer - composed of a metal halide perovskite-methylamine complex - from a transparent state (68% visible transmittance) to an absorbing, photovoltaic colored state (less than 3% visible transmittance) due to dissociation of methylamine. After cooling, the methylamine complex is re-formed, returning the absorber layer to the transparent state in which the device acts as a window to visible light. The thermodynamics of switching and performance of the device are described. In conclusion, this work validates a photovoltaic window technology that circumvents the fundamental tradeoff between efficient solar conversion and high visible light transmittance that limits conventional semitransparent PV window designs.},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-017-01842-4},
journal = {Nature Communications},
number = 1,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {2017},
month = {11}
}
Web of Science
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