Development of a self-charging lithium-ion battery using perovskite solar cells

This study demonstrates the use of perovskite solar cells for fabrication of self-charging lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). A LiFePO₄ (LFP) cathode and Li₄ Ti₅ O₁₂ (LTO) anode were used to fabricate a LIB. The surface morphologies of the LiFePO₄ and Li₄ Ti₅ O₁₂ powders were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The structural properties of the two powders were investigated using X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical properties of the LiFePO₄-Li and Li₄ Ti₅ O₁₂-Li half cells and of the full cell were investigated. The LiFePO₄-Li₄ Ti₅ O₁₂ full cell showed an excellent Coulombic efficiency of 99.3% after 100 cycles. CH₃ NH₃ PBI₃ (MAPbI₃) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) were fabricated using a spin coating technique. A single PSC showed a power conversion efficiency of 12.95%. In order to develop a self-charging system for LIBs, four single PSCs connected in series were used as an LFP-LTO battery. The integrated PSC system showed a power conversion efficiency of 12.44%. The PSC-LIB coupled device showed excellent overall self-charging conversion and a storage efficiency of 9.25%.