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   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    One-step solution-coating method to advance perovskite solar cell   
   manufacturing and commercialization    
      
     Date:   
         April 20, 2023   
     Source:   
         City University of Hong Kong   
     Summary:   
         Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered a promising candidate   
         for next-generation photovoltaic technology with high efficiency   
         and low production cost, potentially revolutionizing the renewable   
         energy industry. However, the existing layer-by-layer manufacturing   
         process presents challenges that have hindered the commercialization   
         of this technology. Recently, researchers have developed an   
         innovative one-step solution-coating approach that simplifies the   
         manufacturing process and lowers the commercialization barriers   
         for PSCs.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered a promising candidate   
   for next- generation photovoltaic technology with high efficiency and   
   low production cost, potentially revolutionizing the renewable energy   
   industry. However, the existing layer-by-layer manufacturing process   
   presents challenges that have hindered the commercialisation of this   
   technology. Recently, researchers from City University of Hong Kong   
   (CityU) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the US   
   jointly developed an innovative one-step solution- coating approach that   
   simplifies the manufacturing process and lowers the commercialisation   
   barriers for PSCs.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   "Reducing the number of device-processing steps without sacrificing device   
   efficiency will help reduce the process complexity and manufacturing   
   cost, which will enhance the manufacturability of PSCs," explained Dr   
   Zhu Zonglong, a co-leader of the research and an assistant professor in   
   the Department of Chemistry at CityU.   
      
   "We addressed the manufacturing issue with a novel approach to co-process   
   the hole-selective contact and perovskite layer in a single step,   
   resulting in state-of-the-art efficiency of 24.5% and exceptional   
   stability for inverted perovskite solar cells. This helps bring the   
   commercialisation of the technology one step closer," he said.   
      
   Typically, PSCs are fabricated using a layer-by-layer process, which   
   involves sequentially depositing different layers of the solar cell on   
   top of each other. While this approach has been successful in producing   
   high-performance perovskite solar cells, it causes issues that may   
   hinder their commercialisation, such as increased fabrication cost,   
   unsatisfactory uniformity and reproducibility.   
      
   To improve the manufacturability of PSCs, Dr Zhu collaborated with Dr   
   Joseph M.   
      
   Luther, from NREL, to jointly invent a new approach for fabricating   
   efficient inverted perovskite solar cells in which the hole-selective   
   contact and perovskite light absorber can spontaneously form in a single   
   solution-coating procedure.   
      
   They found that if specific phosphonic or carboxylic acids are added   
   to perovskite precursor solutions, the solution will self-assemble on   
   the indium tin oxide substrate during perovskite film processing. They   
   form a robust self- assembled monolayer as an excellent hole-selective   
   contact while the perovskite crystallizes. This single solution-coating   
   procedure not only solves wettability issues, but also simplifies   
   device fabrication by creating both the hole-selective contact and the   
   perovskite light absorber simultaneously, instead of the traditional   
   layer-by-layer process.   
      
   The newly created PSC device has a power conversion efficiency of 24.5%   
   and can retain more than 90% of its initial efficiency even after   
   1,200 hours of operating at the maximum power point under continuous   
   illumination. Its efficiency is comparable to that of similar PSCs in   
   the market.   
      
   The collaborative team also showed that the new approach is compatible   
   with various self-assembled monolayer molecular systems, perovskite   
   compositions, solvents and scalable processing methods, such as   
   spin-coating and blade- coating techniques. And the PSC fabricated with   
   the new approach have comparable performance with those produced from   
   other methods.   
      
   "By introducing this innovative approach, we hope to contribute to the   
   perovskite research community by proposing a more straightforward method   
   for manufacturing high-performance perovskite solar cells and potentially   
   accelerating the process of bring them to market," said Dr Zhu.   
      
   The research team plans to further explore the relationship between   
   self- assembled monolayer molecule structures and perovskite precursors   
   to identify an optimal group of self-assembled monolayer molecules for   
   this technique, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the PSCs.   
      
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   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by City_University_of_Hong_Kong. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Xiaopeng Zheng, Zhen Li, Yi Zhang, Min Chen, Tuo Liu, Chuanxiao   
      Xiao,   
         Danpeng Gao, Jay B. Patel, Darius Kuciauskas, Artiom Magomedov,   
         Rebecca A. Scheidt, Xiaoming Wang, Steven P. Harvey, Zhenghong Dai,   
         Chunlei Zhang, Daniel Morales, Henry Pruett, Brian M. Wieliczka,   
         Ahmad R.   
      
         Kirmani, Nitin P. Padture, Kenneth R. Graham, Yanfa Yan, Mohammad   
         Khaja Nazeeruddin, Michael D. McGehee, Zonglong Zhu, Joseph   
         M. Luther. Co- deposition of hole-selective contact and absorber   
         for improving the processability of perovskite solar cells. Nature   
         Energy, 2023; DOI: 10.1038/s41560-023-01227-6   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230420110154.htm   
      
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