Perovskite Solar Fibers: Current Status, Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Perovskite-based solar cells with high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) are currently being demonstrated in solid-state device designs. Their elevated performances can possibly be attained with different non-standard geometries, for example, the fiber-shaped perovskite solar cells, in the light of careful design and engineering. Fiber-shaped solar cells are promising in smart textiles energy harvesting towards next-generation electronic applications and devices. They can be made with facile process and at low cost. Recently, fiber-shaped perovskite solar devices have been reported, particularly with the focus on the proof-of-concept in such non-traditional architectures. In this line, there are so many technical aspects which need to be addressed, if these photovoltaic (PV) cells are to be industrialized and produced massively. Herein, a well-organized and comprehensive discussion about the reported devices in this arena is presented. The challenges that need to be addressed, the possible solutions and the probable applications of these PV cells are also discussed. More still, the perovskite fiber-shaped PV cells with other fiber PV devices reported in literature in terms of their scope, characteristic designs, performances, and other technical considerations have been summarised.

Flexible Solar Yarns with 15.7% Power Conversion Efficiency, Based on Electrospun Perovskite Composite Nanofibers

“…Deposition of the photoactive layer by electrospinning, as shown by SEM images and a photograph in Figure 6c-e, minimized the inconsistences in layer uniformity and quality as well as bending rigidity in the perovskite layer, which are some of the main limitations of thin-film perovskite layers, as earlier pointed out by several authors. [24,26,27] Using a uniaxial electrospinning procedure, three yarns with stacking order of Ag/P3HT/ (CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 -PVP nanofibers) were prepared under identical conditions, with different spinning durations of 1, 3, and 5 min, leading to different thicknesses of perovskite-PVP nanofibers of 3, 10.5, and 20 μm, respectively. This step aimed at achieving an optimum electrospinning duration which could give uniform coverage of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 -PVP nanofibers on Ag/P3HT yarn, together with an average thickness of the nanofiber web which could allow maximum flexibility of the final solar yarn.…”

“…The outstanding photovoltaic performance of this perovskite solar yarn is basically attributed to the multiple advantageous parameters, with respect to the similar literature reports. [22,24,29] In this study for the first-time, perovskite nanofibers were directly wrapped (by electrospinning) on an organic p-type yarn (P3HT/Ag). In other words, the real perovskite nanofiber with extremely large length-to-cross section ratio was used as a photovoltaic layer.…”

“…[21,22] Nevertheless, of all the aforementioned fiber-shaped solar energy harvesters, perovskite solar fibers seem to be the most promising, due to their endless superior properties. [23,24] Since 2014, when Qui et al reported the first perovskite solar fiber with the desire to verify the concept, [25] more devices with several advancements have been reported by a number of authors. [26][27][28][29] In contrast, the reported fiber devices have been identified to have a number of shortcomings which need to be addressed if perovskite fiber technology is to be successfully industrialized and accepted by the market.…”

“…Some of the identified limitations include: low power conversion efficiency (PCE) and fill factor (FF) compared with their planar analogous, increased degradation, and reduction in PCE after several cycles of bending and twisting, reduced flexibility, technical difficulties in controlling the thickness, and quality of different layers, including the perovskite layer and limited surface area for unidirectional light exposer. [24] To address some of these challenges, we opt to enhance the quality and properties of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 specimen material, by growing its crystals under the influence of electric fields and high relative humidity (RH) on a polymer nanofiber base, so as to extremely stretch the cubic crystal lattice to achieve crystals with excellent tetragonal geometry, [30][31][32][33] hence developing a continuous phase of large crystallite or grains, attached on a flexible nanofiber framework.…”

Violin String Inspired Core-Sheath Silk/Steel Yarns for Wearable Triboelectric Nanogenerator Applications

“…Wearable energy-harvesting and energy-storing devices can be integrated into a self-sustainable power system [8]. For example, wearable solar cells are developed to harvest solar energy at daytime [9,10]. However, they are vulnerable to the environment, and are invalid when being sheltered during body movement.…”