Perovskites are crystal structures that can be manufactured in labs for making solar panels.  They are relatively cost-effective, and efficient, and could provide a reliable thin-film alternative to the more common silicon-based solar panels.  

However, perovskite solar cells face a few challenges that must be addressed before they can become a competitive commercial PV technology. In some forms they can be unstable, and lead can be a toxic byproduct when processing them. And yet, perovskite-based materials also could have green energy potential beyond solar as batteries and alternatives to modern refrigerants that use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are strong greenhouse gases.

That’s why Jyorthana Muralidhar is fascinated by perovskites. She is a Wilkes Center-funded postdoctoral researcher working in Professor Connor Bischak’s Lab, in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Utah. There she spends her time manipulating 3-dimensional, 2-dimensional, and 1-dimensional perovskite crystals into various combinations and shapes – all with the hope of discovering a new combination that could become the next clean energy breakthrough.   

Recently, Jyorthana had some time to talk about her research.