Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a semiconductor platform based on hybrid perovskite materials capable of delivering high-efficiency solar energy conversion and advanced memory functions for neuromorphic computing applications, in a breakthrough that could advance both renewable energy and next-generation computing technologies.
The research addresses critical challenges that have slowed the commercialisation of perovskite-based technologies despite their considerable potential in photovoltaics and memory devices.
Perovskites are a class of semiconductor materials characterised by a unique crystal structure that has emerged as one of the most promising alternatives to conventional silicon for solar energy applications. Their ability to absorb sunlight and efficiently separate electrical charges has enabled rapid improvements in solar cell performance over the past decade. Their defect-tolerant electronic properties and ion migration behaviour also make them attractive candidates for resistive-switching memory devices, commonly known as memristors or resistive random-access memory.
The breakthrough is significant at a time when researchers worldwide are working on integrated electronic platforms capable of simultaneously harvesting energy, storing information and performing intelligent computation. Such multifunctional systems are expected to be critical to future wearable electronics, autonomous sensors, internet of things networks and edge artificial intelligence applications.
Further, the IIT Guwahati team is working with industry partners to develop scalable manufacturing processes for large-area and flexible perovskite devices and has filed multiple patents covering both perovskite solar cell technologies and memory devices.
