Triple-cation perovskite solar cells fabricated by a hybrid PVD/blade coating process using green solvents

Abstract

The scalability of highly efficient organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is one of the major challenges of solar module manufacturing. Various scalable methods have been explored to strive for uniform perovskite films of high crystal quality on large-area substrates, but each of these methods has individual limitations on the potential of successful commercialization of perovskite photovoltaics. Here, we report a fully scalable hybrid process, which combines vapor-and solution-based techniques to deposit high quality uniform perovskite films on large-area substrates. This two-step process does not use toxic solvents, and it further allows easy implementation of passivation strategies and additives. We fabricate PSCs based on this process and use blade coating to deposit a SnO 2 electron transporting layer and Spiro-OMeTAD hole transporting layer without halogenated solvents in ambient air. The fabricatedPSCs have achieved open-circuit voltage up to 1.16 V and power conversion efficiency of 18.7% with good uniformity on 5 cm  5 cm substrates.

Thin-Film Coating Methods: A Successful Marriage of High-Quality and Cost-Effectiveness- A Brief Exploration

“…This technology is used to manufacture PSCs that employ blade coating to deposit SnO2 electron transporting layers and Spiro-OMeTAD hole transporting layers in ambient air without the need for halogenated solvents. On substrates measuring 5 cm by 5 cm, the manufactured PSCs attained an open-circuit voltage of up to 1.16 V and a power conversion efficiency of 18.7% with good uniformity [106].…”

“…On large-area substrates, uniform perovskite films of good crystal quality have been sought after using a variety of scalable techniques, but each of these techniques has its constraints on the possibility of perovskite photovoltaics' effective commercialization. Here, a completely scalable hybrid approach is illustrated that combines vapor-and solution-based methods to produce homogeneous perovskite films of excellent quality on surfaces with vast surface areas [106]. This two-step procedure avoids the use of hazardous solvents and makes it simple to include passivation techniques and additives.…”

“…The concept for the scalable PVD/blade coating technique to create the perovskite layer is shown in Figure 10 (a) [106]. The three phases that make up this hybrid technique.…”

“…To encourage crystal development, lessen grain boundaries, and produce a compact perovskite film with large grain size, thermal annealing at 150 o C for 15 min in ambient air is done as the last step. SEM pictures of the film morphology at each stage of the PVD/blade coating process are shown in Figures 10(b-g) [106].…”