Enhancing the Performance and Photostability of Perovskite Solar Cells with a Multifunctional Light-Management...

A multifunctional light management layer for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is presented, made from anisotropic pectin cryogel infiltrated with poly(methyl methacrylate), further enhanced by the incorporation of 2,2',7,7'-tetrabromo-9,9'-spirobifluorene. The effectiveness of the composite layers is evaluated by attaching them to the front glass surface of the PSCs. As a result, the current density of the functionalized PSC increases by an average of 4.4 ± 0.3% relative to pristine PSCs. The improvement is credited to the presence of haze, downconversion, and a 50% reduction in reflectance between 400 and 800 nm compared to glass. The power conversion efficiency of composite-attached PSCs increases by 5 ± 0.2% relative to pristine PSCs. Moreover, the composite effectively mitigated UV-induced photodegradation and localized heating, extending the operational stability of PSCs, as proven by maximum power point tracking tests. The surface temperature decreases, and the T₈₀ of the functionalized PSCs increases by up to 2.6-fold compared to pristine PSCs, primarily due to the composites' significantly low thermal conductivity and UV blocking. These findings suggest that this eco-friendly and lightweight composite offers a viable solution for better-performing and more stable PSCs, advancing the potential for their widespread commercial adoption in various environments, including heavy UV exposure.