Shedding light on the origin of the photovoltaic effect in organic-inorganic perovskites

(Nanowerk News) A team led by RIKEN researchers has investigated how special crystals convert light into electricity (Angewandte Chemie, “Bulk photovoltaic effect along the nonpolar axis in organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites”). Their findings will help inform efforts to improve their efficiency, which could lead to the crystals being used in solar cells. Solar cells convert light into electricity by a phenomenon known as the photovoltaic effect. The vast majority of solar cells consist of two semiconductors wedged together—one with an excess of electrons and the…