Perovskite solar cell structure enhanced by urea and DMSO, symbolizing clean energy and technological advancement.

Power Up Your Perovskites: How This Unexpected Duo Could Revolutionize Solar Cells

Beau Callahan in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Unlock the potential of high-performance solar cells using urea and dimethyl sulfoxide in Perovskite tech. Learn how it boosts efficiency and what it means for the future."

The quest for clean and efficient energy sources is one of the defining challenges of our time. Solar energy, with its abundant availability, holds immense promise. However, making solar technology truly competitive requires continuous innovation in materials and techniques. Among the most exciting developments is the rise of perovskite solar cells, a technology that's rapidly catching up to traditional silicon-based cells.

Perovskite solar cells have captured the attention of researchers worldwide due to their impressive photoelectric performance and cost-effective fabrication. Scientists are constantly exploring new ways to enhance their efficiency and stability, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Recent research has uncovered a surprising combination of materials that could unlock even greater potential: urea and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).

This article dives into the fascinating world of perovskite solar cells, exploring how the synergy between urea and DMSO is revolutionizing this technology. We'll break down the science in an easy-to-understand way, discuss the potential benefits, and examine what this innovation could mean for the future of solar energy.

The Science Behind the Synergy

Perovskite solar cell structure enhanced by urea and DMSO, symbolizing clean energy and technological advancement.

At the heart of this innovation lies the unique interaction between urea and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) during the creation of perovskite films. Perovskites are a class of materials with a specific crystal structure that makes them excellent at absorbing sunlight and converting it into electricity. The key is to create a high-quality perovskite film with large, uniform grains, which allows electrons to flow freely and minimizes energy loss.

Researchers have discovered that adding urea and DMSO during the perovskite film formation process leads to remarkable improvements. Urea, a common and inexpensive chemical compound, acts as a special additive. When combined with DMSO, a versatile solvent, this duo helps to regulate the crystallization process, resulting in larger and more well-formed perovskite grains.

Here's a breakdown of how this process works:

Controlled Crystallization: Urea and DMSO work together to slow down and control the formation of perovskite crystals. This prevents the formation of small, uneven grains that can hinder performance.
Improved Film Quality: The resulting perovskite films are smoother, more uniform, and have fewer defects. This leads to better light absorption and electron transport.
Enhanced Photoelectric Properties: The improved film quality translates directly into higher efficiency in solar cells.

Think of it like baking a cake. You need the right ingredients and a controlled baking process to get the perfect texture and flavor. In this case, urea and DMSO are the key ingredients that, when combined under the right conditions, result in a superior perovskite "cake" that's more efficient at converting sunlight into energy.

The Future is Bright for Perovskite Solar Cells

The discovery of the synergistic effect between urea and DMSO represents a significant step forward in the development of high-performance perovskite solar cells. This innovative approach not only enhances efficiency but also offers a cost-effective and scalable solution for producing next-generation solar technology. As research continues and manufacturing processes are refined, we can expect to see perovskite solar cells playing an increasingly important role in our transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. The potential is there to transform how we power our world, making clean energy accessible to all.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.10.141, Alternate LINK

Title: High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells With Large Grain-Size Obtained By The Synergy Of Urea And Dimethyl Sulfoxide

Subject: Surfaces, Coatings and Films

Journal: Applied Surface Science

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Beibei Liu, Shuo Wang, Zirui Ma, Jiawang Ma, Ruixin Ma, Chengyan Wang

Published: 2019-02-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why are perovskite solar cells gaining so much attention?

Perovskite solar cells are capturing attention because of their impressive photoelectric performance and cost-effective fabrication. The addition of urea and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) during the perovskite film formation process leads to remarkable improvements. Urea acts as a special additive, and when combined with DMSO, a versatile solvent, this combination helps regulate the crystallization process, resulting in larger and more well-formed perovskite grains.

How do urea and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) improve the performance of perovskite solar cells?

Urea and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) work together to control the formation of perovskite crystals. This controlled crystallization prevents the formation of small, uneven grains that can hinder performance. The resulting perovskite films are smoother, more uniform, and have fewer defects, which leads to better light absorption and electron transport, directly translating into higher efficiency in solar cells.

What is the potential impact of using urea and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in perovskite solar cell production on the future of energy?

The synergistic effect of urea and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) enhances efficiency and offers a cost-effective and scalable solution for producing next-generation solar technology using Perovskite tech. As research continues and manufacturing processes are refined, perovskite solar cells can play an increasingly important role in the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future, transforming how we power our world and making clean energy accessible to all.

Why is controlling crystal formation important in perovskite solar cell development, and how do urea and dimethyl sulfoxide help?

The key to perovskite solar cell efficiency lies in creating a high-quality perovskite film with large, uniform grains. These grains allow electrons to flow freely and minimize energy loss. The addition of urea and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) helps regulate the crystallization process, leading to larger, more well-formed grains, smoother films, and enhanced light absorption. Without controlled crystallization using urea and DMSO, the formation of perovskite crystals could lead to small, uneven grains which hinders performance.

How do perovskite solar cells compare to traditional silicon-based solar cells, and what challenges are being addressed with innovations like urea and dimethyl sulfoxide?

Silicon-based solar cells are currently a well-established technology, but perovskite solar cells offer a potentially more cost-effective alternative with rapidly improving efficiency. While the stability of perovskite solar cells is still under investigation, the innovative use of materials like urea and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is addressing these challenges and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in solar energy conversion. Further research into manufacturing process optimization is required.