Development of low-cost and scalable fabrication methods for large-area perovskite solar modules

2. Project Title
Development of low-cost and
scalable fabrication methods for
large-area perovskite solar
modules

3. Presented By
M. USMAN BIN AHMED (00000402462)
Presented To
Dr. Kafaitullah

4. PROJECT GOAL
1. Development of a novel and scalable fabrication method for large area perovskite solar
modules with high efficiency and long-term stability utilizing an additive engineering
approach.
2. Improvement of the crystal structure, along with reduction of defects, and enhancement of
the stability of the resulting perovskite films.
3. Optimization of the dopant-enhanced perovskite films for integration into large area solar
modules.
4. Evaluation of the efficiency and stability of the optimized perovskite solar modules under
typical environmental conditions.
5. Contribution to the commercialization of perovskite solar cells as low-cost and high-
performance photovoltaic devices.

5. A BIG PICTURE

6. Background
•Perovskite solar cells have recently emerged as a promising candidate for next-generation
photovoltaic devices due to their high-power conversion efficiency (PCE), economical
fabrication, and tunable bandgap.
•However, the stability of perovskite solar cells is still a major concern for their
commercialization, as they are overwhelmingly susceptible to moisture, heat, and light-
induced degradation.
• For instance, these perovskite materials are known to be susceptible to degradation in the
presence of moisture and oxygen due to the formation of lead iodide (PbI2) and lead oxide
(PbO) by-products.
•To counter this, the incorporation of dopants into the perovskite precursor solution has
proved to enhance the crystal structure and thereby to reduce defects in the resulting
perovskite films, thus leading to improved stability. In this research, it is aimed to develop a
scalable and reproducible fabrication method for large area perovskite solar modules along
with improved efficiency and stability by utilizing an additive engineering approach.

7. Introduction to
Perovskite Solar
Cells
Perovskite:
• Perovskite refers to a class of materials with a
distinctive crystal structure, named after the
naturally occurring mineral perovskite (ABX3).
• In solar technology, perovskite materials are hybrid
organic-inorganic compounds, typically consisting
of a cation, an anion, and an organic molecule.
Use in Solar Technology:
• Perovskite materials have gained significant
attention for their application in solar cells due to
their exceptional optoelectronic properties.
• Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a
promising photovoltaic technology.
Structure of Perovskite Solar Cells

8. Advantages of
Perovskite Solar
Cells
 High Efficiency:
• Perovskite solar cells have demonstrated remarkable power conversion
efficiencies exceeding 25%, rivaling traditional silicon-based solar cells.
• The unique crystal structure of perovskite materials enables efficient light
absorption and charge carrier transport, resulting in high-efficiency solar
cells.
 Low-Cost Fabrication:
• PSCs offer the potential for low-cost production due to their solution-
processable nature.
• Wet chemical-based techniques like inkjet printing, and slot-die coating
enable cost-effective and scalable manufacturing of perovskite solar cells.
 Versatility and Flexibility:
• Perovskite materials can be engineered and optimized to achieve desired
optoelectronic properties.
• Their flexibility allows for their integration into various form factors,
including lightweight and flexible solar panels, enabling versatile
applications.

9. Challenges and
Limitations
 Despite the advantages, perovskite solar cells face challenges
that need to be addressed for their widespread
commercialization:
 Stability and Durability: Efforts are focused on enhancing the
long-term stability and durability of perovskite solar cells,
especially in the presence of moisture, heat, and light exposure.
 Upscaling and Manufacturing: Research aims to develop
scalable and reproducible fabrication methods for large-area
perovskite solar modules.

10. BASIC WORKING ANALOGY
• Vacuum deposition techniques.
• Difficult to be scaled up for commercialized production.
• CVD techniques, like PECVD, LCVD.
• PVD techniques, like pulsed laser, sputter.
• Spray coating technique, and process parameters, like solvent
composition, spray nozzle etc.

11. Literature Review; Recent Trends
Solution-Processed Fabrication Techniques:
• One of the promising approaches is the solution-processed fabrication of perovskite
films using techniques such as spin-coating, and slot-die coating.
• Spin-coating has been widely used, but it suffers from limitations in scalability and
uniformity.
• Slot-die coating offer potential advantages in terms of scalability, material
utilization, and device performance.
Encapsulation and Stability:
• Perovskite solar modules require effective encapsulation to protect them from
environmental factors such as moisture and oxygen, which can degrade the
perovskite material.
• Advances in encapsulation techniques, such as barrier films and encapsulant
materials, have been explored to improve the stability and longevity of perovskite
solar modules.

12. Literature Review; Key Advancements
1.Scalable Printing Techniques:
• Researchers have made progress in developing scalable printing techniques for large-area
perovskite solar modules.
• Roll-to-roll processing and screen printing have shown promise in achieving high-
throughput manufacturing with good device performance.
• Slot-die coating has also demonstrated the potential for large-scale fabrication, enabling the
continuous deposition of perovskite films.
2.Advanced Encapsulation Strategies:
• Various strategies have been proposed to enhance the stability and encapsulation of
perovskite solar modules.
• The development of multi-layer barrier films with low water vapor permeability has
improved device lifetimes.
• Novel encapsulant materials, such as polymers with high moisture resistance, have been
investigated to enhance the stability of perovskite solar cells.

13. Proposed Methodology; Additive
Manufacturing (Inkjet Printing)
• Preparation of Perovskite Ink: To improve the stability and performance of the resulting perovskite
films, a suitable dopant (such as cesium (Cs) or rubidium (Rb)) is to be added to the lead iodide (PbI2)
and methylammonium iodide (MAI) in a mixture of solvents like N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and
γ-butyrolacetone (GBL).
• Deposition of Perovskite Ink: It is presently proposed to use an additive engineering approach, such as
inkjet printing or aerosol jet printing, to deposit the perovskite ink onto the substrate. The
manufacture of perovskite films with regulated thickness and homogeneity is made possible by this
approach, which allows for the exact deposition of tiny droplets of ink onto the substrate.
• Annealing: The next step is to anneal the perovskite ink that has been deposited at an appropriate
temperature (usually between 100 and 150°C) in order to eliminate any remaining solvent and to aid in
the crystallisation of the perovskite films.

14. Proposed Methodology (Contd.)
• Deposition of Electron Transport Layer (ETL): Using a suitable method, such as spin-coating or spray-
coating, a layer of an electron transport material, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) or zinc oxide (ZnO), is
next to be coated onto the perovskite film. Effective electron transport and collection are made possible by
this layer, which essentially acts as a bridge between the perovskite layer and the bottom electrode.
• Deposition of Hole Transport Layer (HTL): Using a suitable method, such as spin-coating or spray-coating,
a layer of hole transport material, such as spiro-OMeTAD (2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)
9,9'-spirobifluorene), is now to be put onto the ETL layer.
• Deposition of Top Electrode: The HTL layer is now covered with a layer of conductive material, such as gold
(Au) or silver (Ag), using an appropriate method like thermal evaporation or sputtering.
• Characterization: The fabricated perovskite solar cell will next be characterised using a variety of methods,
including steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), external quantum efficiency
(EQE) measurements, and current-voltage (IV) measurements. These measures are used to assess the
perovskite solar cell's performance and stability as well as to evaluatet potential improvement areas.

15. Proposed
Methodology
(Contd.)

16. Expected outcomes and Results
• Fabrication of large-area perovskite solar panels with regulated thickness and homogeneity using
additive engineering.
• Additive engineering enables precise control over the thickness and uniformity of perovskite layers in
large-area solar panels.
• Use of perovskite precursor solutions with added dopants to enhance stability and efficiency of
perovskite solar cells.
• Dopants can improve the material's stability and charge transport properties, leading to enhanced
device performance.
• Optimization of the additive engineering approach and dopant-enhanced perovskite precursor
solutions for low-cost and scalable production of large-area perovskite solar panels.
• These advancements contribute to the commercial viability of perovskite solar technology.

17. Project
Completion
Plan

18. CONCLUSION
• Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer high efficiency and low production costs, but
scalability and stability need improvement for commercial viability.
• Vacuum-based deposition methods used in PSC fabrication are costly and
complex, calling for low-cost and scalable alternatives.
• The proposed research aims to develop a novel fabrication method using additive
engineering for large-area PSC modules with enhanced efficiency and stability.
• Dopant additions will be employed to optimize the perovskite films, which will be
integrated into large-area solar modules for evaluation under different
environmental conditions.
• The research outcomes have the potential to revolutionize the solar energy
industry by enabling economical and high-performance perovskite-based
photovoltaic devices.