Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are becoming widely utilized as hole-selective layers in high-performance p-i-n architecture perovskite solar cells. Ultrasonic spray coating and airbrush coating are demonstrated here as effective methods to deposit MeO-2PACz; a carbazole-based SAM. Potential dewetting of hybrid perovskite precursor solutions from this layer is overcome using optimized solvent rinsing protocols. The use of air-knife gas-quenching is then explored to rapidly remove the volatile solvent from an MAPbI 3 precursor film spray-coated onto an MeO-2PACz SAM, allowing fabrication of p-i-n devices with power conversion efficiencies in excess of 20%, with all other layers thermally evaporated. This combination of deposition techniques is consistent with a rapid, roll-to-roll manufacturing process for the fabrication of large-area solar cells.

Organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites are rapidly approaching state-of-the-art silicon solar cells, with bestperforming devices now reaching power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 25.7%. [1] Although stability remains a challenge for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), their solution-processability represents a major advantage. Techniques such as blade coating, [2] slot-die coating, [3] and spray coating [4] are compatible with roll-to-roll (R2R) processing, which-in principleshould allow much higher throughput speeds than existing silicon solar technologies. However, the lengthy annealing times used to crystallize the perovskite active layer reduce the maximum theoretical web speeds that could be achieved in a practical manufacture process.In 2020, Rolston et al. demonstrated the highest coating speeds of any scalable PSC processing technologies, achieving production speeds of >12 m min −1 . [5] Spray coating was combined with an atmospheric plasma postprocessing route, [6] creating PSC devices and modules with a PCE of 18% and 15.5%, respectively. Critically, these were fabricated without annealing the perovskite layer. At these speeds, the module cost is expected to be fully competitive with Si. [7] In contrast, the calculated throughput rate for spin-coated PSCs incorporating a 10-min anneal is just 0.017 m min −1 ; a rate prohibitive for commercialization. Furthermore, high temperature processing steps increase device manufacturing costs through increased utility costs and reduced throughput. [8] High process temperatures are also incompatible with many sensitive flexible (polymeric) substrates that are expected to be important in "Internet of Things" applications. [9,10] This growing market is expected to reduce the initial investment and barrier to market entry for perovskites by an order of magnitude. [11] Many approaches to create "annealing-free" PSCs have been demonstrated. For example, thermal evaporation of the perovskite layer without any post-annealing treatments can be used to realize devices having reasonable PCEs of up to 15.7%. [12,13] Zhou et al. demonstrated devices with a PCE of 15.7% for MAPbI 3 (where MA is methylammonium) films grown via electrochemical fabrication. [14] The use of antisolvent High temperature post-deposition annealing of hybrid lead halide perovskite thin films-typically lasting at least 10 min-dramatically limits the maximum roll-to-roll coating speed, which determines solar module manufacturing costs. While several approaches for "annealing-free" perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been demonstrated, many are of limited feasibility for scalable fabrication. Here, this work has solvent-engineered a high vapor pressure solvent mixture of 2-methoxy ethanol and tetrahydrofuran to deposit highly crystalline perovskite thin-films at room temperature using gas-quenching to remove the volatile solvents. Using this approach, this work demonstrates p-i-n devices with an annealing-free MAPbI 3 perovskite layer achieving stabilized power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of up to 1...

No abstract

Spray coating is an industrially mature technique used to deposit thin films that combines high throughput with the ability to coat nonplanar surfaces. Here, we explore the use of ultrasonic spray coating to fabricate perovskite solar cells (PSCs) over rigid, nonplanar surfaces without problems caused by solution dewetting and subsequent "run-off". Encouragingly, we find that PSCs can be spray-coated using our processes onto glass substrates held at angles of inclination up to 45°away from the horizontal, with such devices having comparable power conversion efficiencies (up to 18.3%) to those spray-cast onto horizontal substrates. Having established that our process can be used to create PSCs on surfaces that are not horizontal, we fabricate devices over a convex glass substrate, with devices having a maximum power conversion efficiency of 12.5%. To our best knowledge, this study represents the first demonstration of a rigid, curved perovskite solar cell. The integration of perovskite photovoltaics onto curved surfaces will likely find direct applications in the aerospace and automotive sectors.

This study uses a laser patterning setup to write defect structures into a conjugated polymer microcavity. We show that the defect enhances optical confinement and reduces the lasing threshold.

Integrating photovoltaic devices onto the surface of carbon‐fiber‐reinforced polymer substrates should create materials with high mechanical strength that are also able to generate electrical power. Such devices are anticipated to find ready applications as structural, energy‐harvesting systems in both the automotive and aeronautical sectors. Here, the fabrication of triple‐cation perovskite n–i–p solar cells onto the surface of planarized carbon‐fiber‐reinforced polymer substrates is demonstrated, with devices utilizing a transparent top ITO contact. These devices also contain a “wrinkled” SiO2 interlayer placed between the device and substrate that alleviates thermally induced cracking of the bottom ITO layer. Devices are found to have a maximum stabilized power conversion efficiency of 14.5% and a specific power (power per weight) of 21.4 W g−1 (without encapsulation), making them highly suitable for mobile power applications.