One-step solution-coating method to advance perovskite solar cell manufacturing and commercialization

Date:
April 20, 2023
Source:
City University of Hong Kong
Summary:
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered a promising candidate
for next-generation photovoltaic technology with high efficiency
and low production cost, potentially revolutionizing the renewable
energy industry. However, the existing layer-by-layer manufacturing
process presents challenges that have hindered the commercialization
of this technology. Recently, researchers have developed an
innovative one-step solution-coating approach that simplifies the
manufacturing process and lowers the commercialization barriers
for PSCs.


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FULL STORY ========================================================================== Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered a promising candidate
for next- generation photovoltaic technology with high efficiency and
low production cost, potentially revolutionizing the renewable energy
industry. However, the existing layer-by-layer manufacturing process
presents challenges that have hindered the commercialisation of this technology. Recently, researchers from City University of Hong Kong
(CityU) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the US
jointly developed an innovative one-step solution- coating approach that simplifies the manufacturing process and lowers the commercialisation
barriers for PSCs.


========================================================================== "Reducing the number of device-processing steps without sacrificing device efficiency will help reduce the process complexity and manufacturing
cost, which will enhance the manufacturability of PSCs," explained Dr
Zhu Zonglong, a co-leader of the research and an assistant professor in
the Department of Chemistry at CityU.

"We addressed the manufacturing issue with a novel approach to co-process
the hole-selective contact and perovskite layer in a single step,
resulting in state-of-the-art efficiency of 24.5% and exceptional
stability for inverted perovskite solar cells. This helps bring the commercialisation of the technology one step closer," he said.

Typically, PSCs are fabricated using a layer-by-layer process, which
involves sequentially depositing different layers of the solar cell on
top of each other. While this approach has been successful in producing high-performance perovskite solar cells, it causes issues that may
hinder their commercialisation, such as increased fabrication cost, unsatisfactory uniformity and reproducibility.

To improve the manufacturability of PSCs, Dr Zhu collaborated with Dr
Joseph M.

Luther, from NREL, to jointly invent a new approach for fabricating
efficient inverted perovskite solar cells in which the hole-selective
contact and perovskite light absorber can spontaneously form in a single solution-coating procedure.

They found that if specific phosphonic or carboxylic acids are added
to perovskite precursor solutions, the solution will self-assemble on
the indium tin oxide substrate during perovskite film processing. They
form a robust self- assembled monolayer as an excellent hole-selective
contact while the perovskite crystallizes. This single solution-coating procedure not only solves wettability issues, but also simplifies
device fabrication by creating both the hole-selective contact and the perovskite light absorber simultaneously, instead of the traditional layer-by-layer process.

The newly created PSC device has a power conversion efficiency of 24.5%
and can retain more than 90% of its initial efficiency even after
1,200 hours of operating at the maximum power point under continuous illumination. Its efficiency is comparable to that of similar PSCs in
the market.

The collaborative team also showed that the new approach is compatible
with various self-assembled monolayer molecular systems, perovskite compositions, solvents and scalable processing methods, such as
spin-coating and blade- coating techniques. And the PSC fabricated with
the new approach have comparable performance with those produced from
other methods.

"By introducing this innovative approach, we hope to contribute to the perovskite research community by proposing a more straightforward method
for manufacturing high-performance perovskite solar cells and potentially accelerating the process of bring them to market," said Dr Zhu.

The research team plans to further explore the relationship between
self- assembled monolayer molecule structures and perovskite precursors
to identify an optimal group of self-assembled monolayer molecules for
this technique, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the PSCs.

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========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by City_University_of_Hong_Kong. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Xiaopeng Zheng, Zhen Li, Yi Zhang, Min Chen, Tuo Liu, Chuanxiao
Xiao,
Danpeng Gao, Jay B. Patel, Darius Kuciauskas, Artiom Magomedov,
Rebecca A. Scheidt, Xiaoming Wang, Steven P. Harvey, Zhenghong Dai,
Chunlei Zhang, Daniel Morales, Henry Pruett, Brian M. Wieliczka,
Ahmad R.

Kirmani, Nitin P. Padture, Kenneth R. Graham, Yanfa Yan, Mohammad
Khaja Nazeeruddin, Michael D. McGehee, Zonglong Zhu, Joseph
M. Luther. Co- deposition of hole-selective contact and absorber
for improving the processability of perovskite solar cells. Nature
Energy, 2023; DOI: 10.1038/s41560-023-01227-6 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230420110154.htm

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