| AVS 62nd International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Atom Probe Tomography Focus Topic | Monday Sessions |
| Session AP+AS+MC+MI+NS-MoM |
| Session: | Atom Probe Tomography of Nanomaterials |
| Presenter: | Pritesh Parikh, University of California, San Diego |
| Authors: | P. Parikh, University of California, San Diego A. Devaraj, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory S. Meng, University of California, San Diego |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
The Sun forms the largest and most abundant source of energy on earth, yet it is not exploited to its full potential. Solar energy is a burgeoning field with a real chance to replace fossil fuels. The intermittent presence of sunlight can be mitigated by combining energy conversion devices such as solar panels with energy storage devices, namely Li ion batteries. A true solution is possible with the integration of both solar panels and batteries. With the general impetus towards adopting renewable sources for large scale energy storage and supply, fundamental studies on solar panels and batteries will provide new clues to design the next generation of energy devices. A Perovskite solar cell is one such technology that has the potential of high efficiency and low processing costs but a clear understanding of the role of different materials and their individual interactions is still lacking. The ability to identify and understand interfaces and multiple layers in a complex device such as solar cells and batteries is the need of the hour. Here we report on laser assisted atom probe tomography of energy storage and conversion devices to identify the spatial distribution of the elements comprising the various layers and materials. Recent progress and significant challenges for preparation and study of perovskite solar cells and battery materials using laser assisted atom probe tomography will be discussed. This opens up new avenues to understand complex mutli-layer systems at the atomic scale and provide a nanoscopic view into the intricate workings of energy materials.