The widespread adoption of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) faces several critical challenges, despite their rapid efficiency improvements (reaching up to 26.1% in lab settings):
1. Stability and Durability Challenges
- Environmental degradation: PSCs are highly sensitive to moisture, oxygen, and temperature fluctuations, leading to decomposition of the perovskite layer. Encapsulation helps but requires cost-effective, robust solutions for long-term outdoor use.
- UV-induced degradation: Weak chemical bonding between layers (e.g., perovskite, hole transport materials, and electrodes) accelerates degradation under real-world sunlight with UV components.
2. Scalability Issues
- Upscaling losses: Transitioning from small-area lab devices (<1 cm²) to commercial-scale modules (>15 cm²) results in efficiency drops and uniformity challenges.
- Manufacturing consistency: Slot-die coating and roll-to-roll processing show promise, but achieving defect-free large-area films remains a hurdle.
3. Material Sustainability
- Lead toxicity: Most PSCs rely on lead-based perovskites, raising environmental and health concerns. Research into lead-free alternatives (e.g., tin-based perovskites) is ongoing but compromises efficiency.
- Green solvents: Current production often uses toxic solvents. Switching to eco-friendly alternatives requires revised fabrication protocols.
4. Performance Hurdles
- Hysteresis effects: Current-voltage response inconsistencies complicate accurate efficiency measurements.
- Lifetime metrics: Lab-tested PSCs often lack standardized outdoor durability data. Recent studies show promising results (e.g., 16% efficiency retained after 29 weeks outdoors), but industry norms require >25-year lifespans comparable to silicon.
5. Testing and Validation
- Outdoor vs. lab discrepancies: Real-world conditions (variable UV, temperature, humidity) expose weaknesses not detected in controlled lab environments. Initiatives like the PACT center aim to standardize testing.
Future priorities include hybrid polymer layers to improve UV stability, advanced encapsulation techniques, and lead-free perovskite formulations. Addressing these challenges could enable PSCs to complement silicon in applications like building-integrated PV and portable electronics.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-main-challenges-facing-the-widespread-adoption-of-perovskite-solar-cells/
