IPL-Annealed Mixed-Cation Perovskites with Robust Coating Window toward Scalable Manufacturing of Commercial Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a promising alternative solar technology, but the technical challenges of (1) stability/durability, (2) efficiency at scale, and (3) manufacturability must be overcome to achieve widespread PSC commercialization. The challenge of balancing solution ink formulation and scalable manufacturing is often overlooked in the literature, where focus is on adopting inks from processes that will not scale. In this study, we apply a classical roll-to-roll manufacturing perspective, utilizing both compositional engineering and intense pulsed light (IPL) annealing, to develop a mixed-cation perovskite ink with a robust coating window that simultaneously solve issues of stability and manufacturability for PSCs. Our method resulted in blade-coated, flexible, mixed-cation PSCs on ITO-PET substrates with a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) efficiency of 16.7% using IPL annealing of the absorber layer and, to our knowledge, is one of the fastest processing methods for the perovskite layer. This overall reduction in processing time with a stable ink represents an advance toward the scaled production of perovskite solar cells on flexible substrates.

Scalable Solution Processing of Cu:NiOx Nanoparticles for Perovskite Solar Cells

“…To further improve scalability, IPL can reduce annealing time from several minutes to milliseconds. ,, In the current study, IPL processing parameters developed by Chandrasekhar for processing the SnO 2 at 2.0 m/min were adopted . Unlike thermal annealing, IPL annealing does not assist in solvent removal but instead increases film density by rapidly sintering particles together.…”

Synthesizing and formulating metal oxide nanoparticle inks for perovskite solar cells

“…3(b)). 46 Annealing of the SnO 2 was facilitated by the PVSK absorbing the photonic energy of the IPL and super heating at the surface.…”

“…64,[94][95][96][97][98] While spin-coating is effective at forming uniform coatings, this method limits scalability and the results are often difficult to translate to larger area deposition methods. 46 Other methods being explored are spray pyrolysis, 76 blade/meniscus coating, 67,93,99 and slot die roll to roll. 100 Our work has been exclusively centered on blade coating films.…”

Controllable Cosolvent Blade-Coating Strategy toward Low-Temperature Fabrication of Perovskite Solar Cells

“…Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite has attracted wide attention from research and industrial communities owing to its excellent optoelectronic properties, especially in the photovoltaic field with a certified PCE up to 25.7%. − However, most high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are fabricated by spin-coating methods in the lab, where the low utilization of materials, the complex antisolvent dripping process, the use of high-toxicity solvent/antisolvent, and the incompatibility to large-area production greatly hinder the commercialization process of PSCs. , Recently, the blade-coating process has emerged as an attractive alternative due to the lower fabrication criteria, much less material wastage, and much wider utility, such as large-area fabrication. − Currently, a variety of works have been developed to improve bladed perovskite films and devices, including process regulation (e.g., air blowing, substrate heating, vacuum pumping), − composition adjustment, − and additive/solvent engineering (e.g., reducing surface tension, constructing an intermediate phase). − Although great progress has been made, perovskite films still suffer from the sensitivity to process and environment variation, which limits their further improvement and promotion. Thus, further simplification of the process and design of stable ink contents becomes important to realize the reproducible and controllable coating of high-quality perovskite films.…”