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Cost-Optimized Perovskite Solar Cells Enabled by Molecularly Engineered Hole Transport
Jia Xiang1, Qinchao Zhang1, Yi Dou1
1School of Physical Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Frontier Material Physics and Devices, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Intelligent Photoelectric Perception, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Center for Energy Conversion Materials & Physics (CECMP)Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, P. R. China.
Researchers developed cost-effective perovskite solar cells by diluting spiro-OMeTAD and using a copper electrode. This approach achieved a record 25.03% efficiency for copper-electrode perovskite solar cells with excellent stability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Photovoltaics
Background:
- Commercialization of perovskite solar cells is hindered by expensive materials like spiro-OMeTAD and gold electrodes.
- Current n-i-p perovskite solar cell designs rely on costly components, limiting widespread adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reduce the cost of perovskite solar cells while enhancing their efficiency and stability.
- To explore alternative, low-cost materials for hole transport and rear electrodes in n-i-p perovskite solar cells.
Main Methods:
- Diluting the spiro-OMeTAD precursor with a volatile cosolvent to reduce material usage.
- Implementing a solution-processed proton-coupled electron-transfer strategy to create an in-situ p-p+ homojunction hole transport layer.
- Replacing the conventional gold rear electrode with a low-cost copper electrode.
Main Results:
- Achieved a record power conversion efficiency of 25.03% (certified 24.44%) for copper-electrode n-i-p perovskite solar cells.
- Demonstrated that diluting spiro-OMeTAD preserves film morphology and electronic properties.
- Showcased the formation of an Ohmic contact with the copper electrode and accelerated hole extraction.
- Maintained 93% of initial efficiency after 700 hours of continuous illumination for unencapsulated cells, indicating high stability.
Conclusions:
- The developed methods offer a practical and economically viable pathway for high-performance perovskite solar cells.
- This research advances the commercial manufacturing prospects of perovskite solar technology.
- Cost reduction and efficiency enhancement were achieved simultaneously through strategic material management and processing techniques.
