Flexible, transparent nanocellulose paper-based perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Recently perovskite solar cells (PSCs), as photoelectric conversion devices, exhibit excellent power conversion efficiency (PCE) and low-processing cost, and have become one of the most promising devices to replace conventional silicon-based solar cells and address current pressing energy issues. Among them, the flexible PSCs are especially more widely applicable and may propel the rapid advancements of wearable electronics, causing a significant paradigm shift in consumer electronics. Current flexible PSCs use non-biodegradable petroleum-based polymer substrates, discarding of which will aggravate “white pollution”. Therefore, development of green, biodegradable and low-cost flexible substrates will provide a great alternative to flexible PSCs. Here we have developed transparent nanocellulose paper (NCP) with coating of acrylic resin as substrates to fabricate flexible PSCs, which are biodegradable and easily disposable. The PCE of these NCP-based PSCs reached 4.25%, while the power per weight (the ratio of power to device weight) was as high as 0.56 W g–1. The flexible PSCs also showed good stability, retaining >80% of original efficiency after 50 times of bending. The NCP-based substrates can also be applied to other electronic systems, which may prosper next-generation green flexible electronics.

Printed and hybrid integrated electronics using bio-based and recycled materials—increasing sustainability with greener materials and technologies

“…Another alternative is to replace PET substrate with cellulose nanofiber films to obtain optically and mechanically high-quality film with desired barrier properties [33][34][35]. PCE of 1.4% was reported when OPV was prepared directly on nanocellulose film and 4.25% when perovskite solar cell was prepared on nanocellulose film with acrylic coating [36,37]. In polymeric solutions, the approaches to utilize bio-based polymers as substrate material have focused on transfer strategies where the device or part of it has first been prepared on different substrate, or by coating the polymeric material on top of another substrate [19,30,38].…”

Nanocellulose‐based polymer composites for energy applications—A review

“…The PSCs were found to have a power to weight ratio of 0.56 W/g, energy conversion efficiency of 4.25%, and were capable of retaining more than 80% of their efficiency even after undergoing bending 50 times. 42 Gao et al attempted to replace the traditional silicon-based solar energy conversion devices with perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Recently, Yang et al fabricated perovskite films with an enlarged grain size and decreased defect density by introducing a low cost green polymer, ethyl cellulose into the layer.…”

“…fabricated these PSCs using acrylic‐coated NC papers as a substrate, which are ecofriendly and less polluting. The PSCs were found to have a power to weight ratio of 0.56 W/g, energy conversion efficiency of 4.25%, and were capable of retaining more than 80% of their efficiency even after undergoing bending 50 times . Gao et al .…”

Cellulose Regeneration and Chemical Recycling: Closing the “Cellulose Gap” Using Environmentally Benign Solvents

“…[ 67 ] Similarly, to prepare flexible cellulose‐based solar cells, cotton was dissolved in NaOH/urea and regenerated as thin transparent film followed by coating with a poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrene sulfonate as anode and current collector, respectively. [ 69 ]…”