Researchers from City University of Hong Kong and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have developed a groundbreaking one-step solution-coating process for manufacturing Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs), achieving a remarkable efficiency of 24.5%. This innovative approach aims to simplify production, addressing challenges associated with traditional layer-by-layer methods that have hindered commercialization due to high costs, lack of uniformity, and reproducibility issues.
By co-processing the hole-selective contact and the perovskite absorber in a single step, they effectively reduce complexity and manufacturing expenses. The incorporation of specific phosphonic or carboxylic acids allows for the self-assembly of a robust monolayer that forms the hole-selective contact as the perovskite crystallizes. The developed PSCs maintain over 90% of their initial efficiency after 1,200 hours of continuous operation, equaling the performance of existing market alternatives.
This process is adaptable to various molecular systems, solvent compositions, and scalable processing techniques like spin-coating and blade-coating, offering promise for future market applications. The authors plan to further investigate optimal self-assembled monolayer molecules to enhance PSC performance, contributing to the advancement of renewable energy technologies.
