Perovskite solar cells have progressed very steadily, reaching power conversion efficiencies (PCE) beyond 20% while also improving their lifetimes up to 10,000 h. A large number of cell architecture and materials for active, transporting and electrode layers have been used, either in blends or in nanostructured layers. In this article, a set of perovskite solar cells have been designed, fabricated and characterized with special focus on their lifetime extension. The inclusion of 5-amino-valeric acid iodide (5–AVAI) as interlayer in a methyl-amino lead-iodide (MAPI) perovskite solar cell has provided additional stability in cells with PCE > 10% and T80 = 550 h. Experiments for up to 1000 h with solar cells at maximum power point under continuous illumination with solar simulator have been carried out (1 kW/m2, AM1.5G, equivalent to more than six months of outdoor illumination in locations such as Southeast Spain, with an average irradiation of 1900 kWh/m2/year). The addition of molecular additives in the bulk active layer and ETL and carbon layers not only allows better carrier transport, but also increases the stability of the perovskite solar cell by reducing ion migration within the bulk MAPI and between the different layers. Engineered interfaces with ZrO2 between the TiO2 and carbon layers contribute to reducing degradation.
The integration of photovoltaic technologies into greenhouse envelopes appears to be an innovative and environmentally-friendly way to supply their various energy demands. However, the effect on the inner growing conditions, especially on the temperature, must be assessed in order to effectively implement this solution. In this study, experimental temperature data were obtained over two years for four structures built with different photovoltaic technologies (mono-crystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and an organic polymeric technology) and fitted to a thermal model in order to provide a comprehensive analysis of their potential utilization as a cover material in greenhouses. Additionally, the thermal effect of color in structures composed of several common construction materials (brick, wood, plasterboard and glass) was quantified and modelled, supplementing the thermal analysis of passive solutions for this application. In all cases, inner and ambient temperature differences of up to +20 °C, created by a passive heating effect during the day, and −5 °C, created by a passive cooling effect during the night, have been observed, suggesting the use of the photovoltaic modules with different degrees of structure coverage, complemented with the color tuning of the modules themselves as passive methods to control the temperature and light spectrum of greenhouses.
Variable transmission applications for light control or energy saving based on electrochromic materials have been successfully applied in the past in the building, sports, or automotive fields, although lower costs and ease of fabrication, installation, and maintenance are still needed for deeper market integration. In this study, all-printed large area (900 cm2 active area) flexible electrochromic devices were fabricated, and an autoregulating self-power supply was implemented through the use of organic solar cells. A new perspective was applied for automotive light transmission function, where portability and mechanical flexibility added new features for successful market implementation. Special emphasis was placed in applying solution-based scalable deposition techniques and commercially available materials (PEDOT-PSS as an electrochromic material; vanadium oxide, V2O5, as a transparent ion-storage counter electrode; and organic solar modules as the power supply). A straightforward electronic control method was designed and successfully implemented allowing for easy user control. We describe a step-by-step route following the design, materials optimization, electronic control simulation, in-solution fabrication, and scaling-up of fully functional self-powered portable electrochromic devices.
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