Scalable Deposition Techniques and Strategies
1. Solution-Based Methods (Printing and Coating)
- Techniques such as blade coating, inkjet printing, screen printing, and slot-die coating have been extensively developed for scalable perovskite film deposition. These methods allow control over film morphology and thickness across large areas, essential for module fabrication.
- A recent review discusses various scalable solution processing methods and strategies to address challenges in uniform nucleation, crystal growth, and morphology control for large-area films.
2. Antisolvent Engineering and Soaking Techniques
- Antisolvent bathing and dynamic antisolvent spraying have been innovated to improve large-area film quality by promoting uniform nucleation and crystallization, resulting in smooth, dense, and homogeneous perovskite films. These approaches have successfully scaled small-device efficiencies (~25%) to modules with efficiencies over 17%-18% in areas ~50-800 cm².
- The antisolvent bathing method allows perovskite precursor films to be soaked briefly to ensure uniform crystallization, improving reproducibility and film uniformity over large areas.
Advances in 2D/3D Perovskite Layer Formation for Stability and Efficiency
- A novel scalable passivation approach to form homogeneous 2D perovskite layers on top of 3D perovskite films has been developed. Treatment with formamidinium bromide and long-chain alkylamine salts produces a uniform 2D passivation layer that significantly enhances both efficiency and stability of large-area perovskite solar modules.
- This method achieved active-area efficiencies of up to 25.6% on small devices and ~18-19% on fully slot-die printed modules of 310-802 cm², demonstrating scalability with existing printing technologies. The 2D layer also improves environmental stability, extending operational lifetime beyond 2000 hours under continuous illumination.
Vacuum and Sublimation Techniques
- Close-space sublimation (CSS) has emerged as a scalable vacuum-based approach for perovskite deposition. CSS involves sublimating inorganic precursors onto substrates followed by deposition of organic cations, sometimes through a second sublimation step, to form high-quality perovskite films without the need for high-vacuum or complex annealing steps.
- This technique yields pinhole-free, uniform layers over areas up to 100 mm² and has produced power conversion efficiencies around 16% for small devices and over 10% for larger areas, showing promise for industrial scale-up due to its controllability and reproducibility.
Summary Table of Recent Scalable Deposition Advances
| Technique | Key Features | Performance & Scale | Stability / Other Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slot-die / Blade Coating & Printing | Solution-based, compatible with large area, versatile | ~18-19% PCE on module scale (310-800 cm²) | Enables high uniformity and reproducibility |
| Antisolvent Bathing / Spraying | Uniform nucleation, improved crystal growth | Modules ~17-18% PCE (up to 53.64 cm²) | Scalable, green solvents explored |
| 2D/3D Perovskite Passivation Layer | Homogeneous 2D coverage enhances stability | 25.6% on small, ~18.9% on large modules | >2000 hr operation stability at max power point |
| Close-Space Sublimation (CSS) | Vacuum-based, no additional annealing needed | ~16% PCE for small devices, uniform films | Controlled stoichiometry, easy scalability |
Conclusion
These advances collectively represent significant progress toward scalable, efficient, and stable perovskite solar manufacturing. The combination of improved chemical/physical deposition methods, enhanced passivation strategies, and vacuum sublimation approaches is paving the way for commercial-scale production of high-performance perovskite solar modules.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-latest-advancements-in-scalable-deposition-techniques-for-perovskite-layers/
