The commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) faces several critical challenges, primarily revolving around stability, scalability, and reliability, as outlined by recent research:
1. Long-term stability under operational conditions
PSCs degrade under heat, moisture, light, and electrical stress. While lab-scale devices have achieved >10,000 hours of stability under controlled 1-sun illumination (equivalent to 10 years of outdoor use in temperate climates), real-world conditions—such as UV exposure, temperature fluctuations, and humidity—accelerate degradation.
- Potential-induced degradation (PID) poses a severe threat, causing rapid performance loss due to ion migration under high voltage bias.
- Standardized testing protocols for stability assessment are still under development, complicating comparisons between studies.
2. Scalability and fabrication consistency
- Large-area uniformity: Scaling up from lab-sized cells (<1 cm²) to industrial modules (>100 cm²) often results in efficiency losses due to non-uniform film deposition.
- Manufacturing techniques: Methods like blade coating and screen printing show promise for mass production, but reproducibility remains a hurdle.
- Tandem integration: Compatibility with silicon or other PV technologies requires optimized bandgaps and stable interlayers.
3. Environmental and material challenges
- Lead toxicity: Most high-efficiency PSCs contain lead, raising environmental and regulatory concerns.
- Moisture sensitivity: Perovskites degrade rapidly in humid environments, necessitating advanced encapsulation.
- Cost vs. durability: While materials are cheap, long-lasting encapsulation and corrosion-resistant electrodes add expense.
4. Reliability in field applications
- Module design: Series connections in large modules face reverse-bias degradation during partial shading.
- Lifetime prediction: Accelerated aging tests (e.g., 85°C/85% relative humidity) need alignment with real-world degradation kinetics.
5. Competitiveness with existing technologies
PSCs must achieve sub-$0.10/kWh levelized costs to rival silicon PV, requiring:
- Efficiencies >25% in modules (currently ~20-22% for larger areas).
- Guaranteed 25-year lifespans, validated by standardized testing.
Recent efforts focus on interfacial engineering to mitigate ion migration and additive engineering to improve large-area film quality. However, addressing these challenges holistically remains critical for commercialization.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-main-challenges-in-commercializing-perovskite-solar-cells/
