Simplifying perovskite solar cell fabrication for materials testing: how to use unetched substrates with the aid of a three-dimensionally printed cell holder.

This work demonstrates that unetched substrates can be reliably used in perovskite solar cell (PSC) fabrication. Chemical etching and laser patterning of the bottom electrodes are time- and resource-consuming processes. In particular, when testing novel conductive substrate materials, such as metallic or bio-based substrates, etching or patterning could be entirely unfeasible or could require significant process optimization.

Scalable Lead Acetate-Based Perovskite Thin Films Prepared via Controlled Nucleation and Growth under Near Ambient Conditions.

Lead acetate (PbAc) is a promising precursor salt for large-scale production of perovskite solar cells, as its high solubility in polar solvents enables the use of scalable deposition methods such as inkjet printing and dip coating. In this study, uniform (40-230 nm) PbAc thin films were prepared via dip coating under near ambient lab conditions by tuning the PbAc precursor concentration. In a second step, these PbAc films were converted to methylammonium lead iodide (MAPI) perovskite by immersing them into methylammonium iodide (MAI) solutions.

Eco-design for perovskite solar cells to address future waste challenges and recover valuable materials.

Photovoltaic development should be steered by the circular economy. However, it is not. In case of perovskite photovoltaics even current environmental directives divert from profitably recycling.

Investigation of Well-Defined Pinholes in TiO Electron Selective Layers Used in Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells.

The recently introduced perovskite solar cell (PSC) technology is a promising candidate for providing low-cost energy for future demands. However, one major concern with the technology can be traced back to morphological defects in the electron selective layer (ESL), which deteriorates the solar cell performance. Pinholes in the ESL may lead to an increased surface recombination rate for holes, if the perovskite absorber layer is in contact with the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate via the pinholes.

Enhancing Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells via N-doped Graphene: Crystal Modification and Surface Passivation.

Controlling the morphology and surface passivation in perovskite solar cells is paramount in obtaining optimal optoelectronic properties. This study incorporates N-doped graphene nanosheets in the perovskite layer, which simultaneously induces an improved morphology and surface passivation at the perovskite/spiro interface, resulting in enhancement in all photovoltaic parameters.