The most promising scalable deposition technologies for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) focus on methods that enable low-cost, large-area, and high-quality film formation compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing. Current leading scalable techniques include:
Spray-Deposition
- Spray coating, including ultrasonic spray deposition, is a low-cost and roll-to-roll compatible method that can replace traditional spin-coating, which is not suitable for large-scale production.
- It allows for solution processing in ambient air and flexible substrates, with wide processing windows for the perovskite ink formulation.
- Spray-deposited films have enabled perovskite solar cells with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) up to about 17.3%, comparable to spin-coated films processed in inert atmospheres.
- Challenges include slightly rougher surface morphology compared to spin-coating, but dense films with over 85% surface coverage and good crystal quality have been demonstrated.
- This approach is adaptable to large-area uniform deposition and rapid crystallization control, making it suitable for industrial roll-to-roll manufacturing.
Vapor-to-Solid Deposition via Intermediate Phases
- Vapor deposition is another promising scalable approach, particularly for producing high-quality perovskite films over large areas.
- A novel vapor-to-solid method using a 2D intermediate phase improves the reaction kinetics and mass transport limitations encountered in previous vapor deposition attempts.
- This technique yields large-grain, monolithic vertical crystal growth with no horizontal grain boundaries, enhancing film quality and stability.
- Using this method, PSCs with efficiencies exceeding 22% on small areas (1 cm²) and modules with areas up to 48 cm² achieving over 20% efficiency have been produced.
- These modules also show excellent operational stability, retaining significant performance after extended operation and ambient storage.
- This advancement points to vapor deposition’s scalability potential for commercial module fabrication with high efficiency and durability.
Additional Notes from Reviews
- Recent comprehensive reviews highlight a variety of scalable deposition technologies including slot-die coating, blade coating, spray coating, and vapor deposition.
- Each method has trade-offs regarding cost, film quality, throughput, and environmental conditions.
- However, spray-deposition and improved vapor deposition processes currently stand out as the most promising for combining scalability with high device performance and stability.
Summary Table
| Deposition Technology | Key Features | Efficiency Range (%) | Scalability Potential | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spray-Deposition (Ultrasonic) | Low cost, roll-to-roll compatible; ambient air process; rapid crystallization control | Up to ~17.3 | High (industrial roll-to-roll) | Good but surface roughness |
| Vapor-to-Solid with 2D intermediate phase | High-quality large-area films; controlled grain growth; strong phase control | >22 (small cell); ~20 (modules) | High (large-area modules) | Excellent (long-term tested) |
In conclusion, ultrasonic spray coating and advanced vapor deposition methods utilizing intermediate phases represent the most promising scalable deposition technologies for perovskite solar cells, balancing high efficiency, manufacturability, and stability for future commercial applications.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-most-promising-scalable-deposition-technologies-for-perovskite-solar-cells/
