Shape shifting perovskite materials show promise for LEDs and solar power

Shape shifting perovskite materials show promise for LEDs and solar power
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 16, 2025

In the search for more efficient renewable energy technologies, researchers at the University of Utah have spotlighted the potential of Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites-layered hybrid materials with promising applications in LEDs, solar cells, and thermal energy storage.

Graduate student Perry Martin, working in the Department of Chemistry's Bischak Lab, led a study employing temperature-sensitive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction to investigate how these materials change state. Known as phase transitions, these shifts affect the perovskites' optical behavior. Since the structure features both organic and inorganic layers, the dynamic transformation of the organic components directly alters the inorganic structure, impacting how much light the material emits and at what wavelength.

"There are these almost greasy chains that kind of crystallize together. When you hit a certain temperature, those will essentially melt and become more disordered," explained senior author and Assistant Professor Connor Bischak. "The melting process influences the structure of the inorganic component, which controls how much light is emitted from the material and its wavelength."

Bischak noted the exceptional adaptability of perovskites at the molecular level: "The emission wavelength can be tuned from ultraviolet up to near-infrared."

This tunability makes perovskites highly attractive for thermal energy storage. Their ability to endure repeated heating and cooling without significant degradation ensures long-term performance superior to current materials. The same property enhances their potential in solar energy systems, where traditional silicon technology falls short due to high manufacturing costs and limited raw material supply.

Perovskites, in contrast, are solution-processable. "What that means is you basically dissolve all these precursor chemicals in a solvent, and then you can make your solar cell almost like printing with ink," Bischak said. "It produces an efficient solar cell material that's better than silicon."

Moreover, these materials can augment existing silicon-based solar panels, significantly improving their output.

With global demand for clean, adaptable energy growing, the inherent flexibility and efficiency of perovskite materials signal a transformative step toward next-generation energy solutions.

Research Report:Coupled optical and structural properties of two-dimensional metal-halide perovskites across phase transitions