ASSET Lab's Research Seminar Series (RSS) kick-started last Friday (11/11/2022) with an entertaining and very inspiring talk by Dr. Barbara Primera Darwich (BPD) on perovskite solar cells.
In this talk, BPD presented a complete revision of the field of perovskite-based photovoltaics, unpacking some of the results she has published so far, providing a complete overview of the field and the motivation for her research. Most of her research efforts devoted to the emerging arena of 2D perovskites for photovoltaic application which hold the key to circumvent the stability issues of conventional 3D perovskites. Among other studies, BPD explored the use of bulky organic spacers to form quasi-2D perovskites. Unlike traditional studies wherein insulating ligands are used, BPD incorporated “functional” ligands that could actively participate in the charge separation and transport. Here BPD observed that engineering these ligands is critical to control the crystallinity of the perovskite, and in turn, to improve the performance. In such a way, BPD managed to fabricate devices that outperformed those based on conventional ligands. It was concluded that this enhancement originated from the improved charge transport and passivation of defects, likely due to the interaction between the ligand (Lewis base) and the halide vacancies. Overall, the enthusiasm of BPD together with the alluring prospects of this technology fueled a long and vivid round of questions where the influence of the ligand structure, the prospects of lead-free-based perovskites and the costs of this technology were discussed.
[...] Unlike traditional studies wherein insulating ligands are used, BPD incorporated “functional” ligands that could actively participate in the charge separation and transport. [...] BPD managed to fabricate devices that outperformed those based on conventional ligands.
Bio: BPD obtained her PhD (2022) in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in the field of Perovskite Solar Cells under the supervision of Prof. Kevin Sivula. BPD completed a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering & a minor in Materials Science at Columbia University (USA) followed by an M. Sc. In Advanced Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London (UK). Here, BPD investigated a new generation of redox flow batteries (Song group, UK) and previously soft materials for renewable energy applications (Kumar group, USA). Among the distinctions BPD has received so far, it is worth mentioning the Dean’s List (Columbia University) or the Innosuisse La Forge Prize (EPFL).
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