Perovskite Solar Cells: From the Atomic Level to Film Quality and Device Performance

Organic–inorganic perovskites have made tremendous progress in recent years due to exceptional material properties such as high panchromatic absorption, charge carrier diffusion lengths, and a sharp optical band edge. The combination of high‐quality semiconductor performance with low‐cost deposition techniques seems to be a match made in heaven, creating great excitement far beyond academic ivory towers. This is particularly true for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) that have shown unprecedented gains in efficiency and stability over a time span of just five years. Now there are serious efforts for commercialization with the hope that PSCs can make a major impact in generating inexpensive, sustainable solar electricity. In this Review, we will focus on perovskite material properties as well as on devices from the atomic to the thin film level to highlight the remaining challenges and to anticipate the future developments of PSCs.     

Recent advances in high-performance semitransparent perovskite solar cells

Semitransparent perovskite photovoltaics have been developed to realize practical applications, such as windows in buildings/automobiles or the top cells of tandem devices. Among the functional layers constituting solar cell devices, fabricating efficient semitransparent light absorbers is one of the key issues for developing semitransparent devices. This short review describes the recent strategies for structuring semitransparent perovskite layers to achieve high performance in terms of both power conversion efficiency and transmittance.     

Recent progress of thin-film photovoltaics for indoor application

Indoor photovoltaics have attracted increasing attentions owing to their great potential in supplying energy for low power devices under indoor light in our daily life.The third generation thin-film solar cells,including dye-sensitized solar cells,perovskite solar cells and organic solar cells,have made rapid progress from the aspect of materials design to photovoltaic performance.This review provides an overview on the recent advances in the development of indoor photovoltaic technologies based on the third generation solar cells.The design principles of advanced thin-film indoor photovoltaics were also summarized according to the characteristics of indoor light and the advantages of the third generation solar cells.Finally,after summarizing the current research progress,the perspective on this topic is provided.     

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal device with integrated luminescent solar concentrator

Polymer dispersed Liquid crystal (PDLC) windows are regarded as a good choice for curtain-free windows. However, conventional PDLC needs external electricity to operate, which causes extra energy consumption. These devices cannot be combined with traditional solar cells for energy savings. In this study, a new design of luminescent solar concentrator (LSC)-based PDLC device is presented. In particular, we successfully demonstrate that the PDLC can be integrated with LSC as its back scatter and potentially contributes towards the enhancement of power output by minimising backside light losses. Multi-luminophore LSC is employed to increase the absorption of air mass 1.5 solar irradiance. The edge emission measurements show multiple-luminophore-based PDLC-LSC gives the maximum edge emission power which is 1.7 times more than that of single luminophore-based PDLC-LSC device. Photocurrent measurements are also performed as an additional evidence for the improved performance of PDLC-LSC device. Finally, the visual properties of PDLC-LSC devices are evaluated to realise the compatibility of using such devices in the built environment.     

钙钛矿光伏电池封装材料与工艺研究进展

钙钛矿太阳能电池作为第3代新概念太阳能电池,具有高光电转换效率、低成本和可柔性加工等优点,近年来发展迅速,其光电转换效率从一开始的3.8%增长到近期的25.5%,逐渐比肩硅电池,已接近商业化应用水平。目前,实现钙钛矿太阳能电池产业应用的关键环节在于电池封装,它不仅可以解决钙钛矿光伏器件稳定性问题,还可以实现电池安全、环保和延长使用寿命等要求。结合近十几年来钙钛矿光伏电池封装材料和封装工艺两方面的发展现状,文中介绍了钙钛矿电池封装领域取得的成果和存在的不足,讨论了目前现有封装技术的优缺点,以及它们适用的不同器件类型。着重在不同温度湿度条件下,比较了不同封装材料性能、封装工艺条件对钙钛矿电池效率及稳定性的影响,归纳出影响钙钛矿电池薄膜封装效果的3个关键因素： 聚合物的弹性模量、水蒸气透过率、加工温度。比较了不同聚合物薄膜封装材料适宜的加工温度、优缺点及加工成本。可以看出,随着钙钛矿光伏电池工业化需求的强烈增长和人们对其封装材料研究的不断深入,研究适合大面积生产和光伏建筑一体化的新型功能聚合物封装材料将是必然趋势。     

界面钝化策略:提高钙钛矿太阳能电池的稳定性

近年来,新兴起的有机无机杂化钙钛矿太阳能电池突飞猛进,在短短十年里其光电转化效率从3.8%迅速发展到目前25.2%的认证效率,被视为最具有应用潜力的新型高效率太阳能电池之一。虽然钙钛矿太阳能电池具有很高的光电转换效率已与多晶硅薄膜电池相媲美,但是电池的长期稳定性仍是阻碍其商业化的一大挑战。钙钛矿表面和晶界存在大量的缺陷,界面钝化来提高钙钛矿太阳能电池的稳定性是非常重要且有效的策略。二维钙钛矿材料是有机胺层与无机层交替的层状钙钛矿,具有体积较大的有机铵阳离子,与传统的三维钙钛矿材料相比对于环境的稳定性较好,并且结构灵活可调,在三维钙钛矿表面修饰二维钙钛矿层钝化缺陷,在提高钙钛矿太阳能电池效率的同时又保证了稳定性,另外,合适的钝化剂分子也能够非常有效地钝化缺陷。本文总结了钙钛矿太阳能电池的不稳定因素,归纳了钙钛矿太阳能电池界面钝化方面的研究进展,指出了二维钙钛矿材料发展的巨大潜力以及寻找合适钝化剂分子的原则,期望能够为获得高性能的钙钛矿太阳能电池进而实现商业化提供有益的指导。     

Prospects of Graphene as a Potential Carrier‐Transport Material in Third‐Generation Solar Cells

Third‐generation solar cells are understood to be the pathway to overcoming the issues and drawbacks of the existing solar cell technologies. Since the introduction of graphene in solar cells, it has been providing attractive properties for the next generation of solar cells. Currently, there are more theoretical predictions rather than practical recognitions in third‐generation solar cells. Some of the potential of graphene has been explored in organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), but it has yet to be fully comprehended in the recent third‐generation inorganic–organic hybrid perovskite solar cells. In this review, the diverse role of graphene in third‐generation OPVs and DSSCs will be deliberated to provide an insight on the prospects and challenges of graphene in inorganic–organic hybrid perovskite solar cells.     

Anti-Solvent-Free Preparation for Efficient and Photostable Pure-Iodide Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells

The perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell (TSC) has attracted tremendous attention due to its potential to breakthrough the theoretical efficiency set for single-junction solar cells. However, the perovskite solar cell (PSC) designed as its top component cell suffers from severe photo-induced halide segregation owing to its mixed-halide strategy for achieving desirable wide-bandgap (1.68 eV). Developing pure-iodide wide-bandgap perovskites is a promising route to fabricate photostable perovskite/silicon TSCs. Here, we report efficient and photostable pure-iodide wide-bandgap PSCs made from an anti-solvent-free (ASF) technique. The ASF process is achieved by mixing two precursor solutions, both of which are capable of depositing corresponding perovskite films without involving anti-solvent. The mixed solution finally forms Cs_0.3DMA_0.2MA_0.5PbI₃ perovskite film with a bandgap of 1.68 eV. Furthermore, methylammonium chloride additive is applied to enhance the crystallinity and reduce the trap density of perovskite films. As a result, the pure-iodide wide-bandgap PSC delivers efficiency as high as 21.30 % with excellent photostability, the highest for this type of solar cells. The ASF method significantly improves the device reproducibility as compared with devices made from other anti-solvent methods. Our findings provide a novel recipe to prepare efficient and photostable wide-bandgap PSCs.     

Stipulating Low Production Cost Solar Cells All Set to Retail…!

Today's solar cells are exceptionally in demand whilst excess exploitation of natural fossil fuels. In this context, the first and second generation solar cells commercially available in market for more than decades however limitations in production cost and large–scale applications insist to generate inexpensive materials for fabrication. Thereby, organic materials based solar cells explored and emerging as third generation solar cells which possess flexibility, low cost and large‐scale applications. For example, organic photovoltaics, dye sensitized solar cells and perovskite (organic‐inorganic) solar cells (PSCs) are considered third generation solar cells wherein PSCs reached the record power conversion efficiency (PCE ～23 %) and durability assists great advantages for commercialization in near future. Moreover, we reported various global renowned companies involved producing the modules and materials for three generation solar cells, hence, majority of companies considered commercialization of perovskite based solar cells assist low cost photovoltaics to meet the current energy necessities and environmental safety.     

钙钛矿型太阳能电池制备工艺及稳定性研究进展

有机-无机杂化钙钛矿型太阳能电池因其简单的制备工艺,低廉的制造成本,优异的光电转换效率,成为光伏领域的研究热点。钙钛矿光吸收材料具有消光系数高、载流子迁移率高、载流子寿命长、带隙可调控等优点。短短几年内,钙钛矿型太阳能电池的效率从最初的3.8%提高到22.1%。目前,为了获得稳定高效的钙钛矿型太阳能电池,主要有以下几个研究思路:新型器件结构设计;结构功能层的材料形貌设计;结构各功能层间的界面修饰;空穴传输材料的选择;对电极的选择。本文通过文献综述,在回顾了国内外研究者对钙钛矿型太阳能电池的研究历程的基础上,介绍了钙钛矿型太阳能电池的结构和工作原理,重点总结了电子传输层和钙钛矿层的制备工艺及优化,并讨论了钙钛矿型太阳能电池的稳定性以及展望了其商业化的前景。     

钙钛矿型太阳能电池制备工艺及稳定性研究进展

有机-无机杂化钙钛矿型太阳能电池因其简单的制备工艺,低廉的制造成本,优异的光电转换效率,成为光伏领域的研究热点。钙钛矿光吸收材料具有消光系数高、载流子迁移率高、载流子寿命长、带隙可调控等优点。短短几年内,钙钛矿型太阳能电池的效率从最初的3.8%提高到22.1%。目前,为了获得稳定高效的钙钛矿型太阳能电池,主要有以下几个研究思路：新型器件结构设计;结构功能层的材料形貌设计;结构各功能层间的界面修饰;空穴传输材料的选择;对电极的选择。本文通过文献综述,在回顾了国内外研究者对钙钛矿型太阳能电池的研究历程的基础上,介绍了钙钛矿型太阳能电池的结构和工作原理,重点总结了电子传输层和钙钛矿层的制备工艺及优化,并讨论了钙钛矿型太阳能电池的稳定性以及展望了其商业化的前景。     

Fast-growing procedure for perovskite films in planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells

A fast-growing procedure (FGP) to fabricate perovskite films with large grain sizes is described in this article. In the FGP method, the perovskite precursor solution is coated onto the substrates at a temperature of ~240 ℃. The solvent in the precursor solution evaporates quickly in about 2 s, resulting in the rapid formation of a perovskite film without further annealing process. Millimeter-scale perovskite grain clusters are obtained in the film. Based on such perovskite films, fabricated planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells give a power conversion efficiency (PCE) above 8%.     

钙钛矿太阳能电池中吸收层的研究进展

钙钛矿太阳能电池因具有成本低、制备容易和光电性能优异等突出特点受到了广泛关注.钙钛矿太阳能电池能量转化效率已从2009年的3.8%提升到2019年的25.2%.我们在文中重点总结了钙钛矿电池吸收层的制备工艺,掺杂和晶体组成、结构调控方面取得的重要进展,以及这些突破对电池效率提高的贡献,同时也提出了钙钛矿太阳能电池发展仍需要解决的问题.     

提升基于钙钛矿的叠层太阳能电池稳定性的策略

近年来,基于有机无机金属卤化物钙钛矿的叠层太阳能电池引起了巨大的研究热潮。但是,不稳定性限制了其商业化。适用于顶部子电池的宽带隙钙钛矿存在相不稳定性,而适用于底部子电池的窄带隙钙钛矿存在空气不稳定性。首先,我们总结了提升基于钙钛矿的叠层太阳能电池稳定性的最新进展。然后,我们系统地分析了导致宽带隙钙钛矿的相不稳定性和窄带隙钙钛矿的空气不稳定性的原因,并为解决这些不稳定性问题总结了合理的策略。我们也简短地总结了中间层带来的不稳定性以及相应的解决措施。最后,我们回顾了钙钛矿材料固有的本征不稳定性和相应的改进方法,这对于将来发展更稳定的叠层太阳能电池中是必要的。我们认为随着对钙钛矿子电池的理解越来越深入,基于钙钛矿的叠层电池特别是钙钛矿/硅叠层电池将会迅速商业化。     

Reducing Agents for Improving the Stability of Sn‐based Perovskite Solar Cells

Organic‐inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have aroused tremendous research interest for their high efficiency, low cost and solution processability. However, the involvement of toxic lead in state‐of‐art perovskites hinders their market prospects. As an alternative, Sn‐based perovskites exhibit similar semiconductor characteristics and can potentially achieve comparable photovoltaic performance in comparison with their lead‐based counterparts. The main challenge of developing Sn‐based PCSs lies in the intrinsic poor stability of Sn²⁺, which could be oxidized and converted to Sn⁴⁺. Notably, introduction of SnX₂ (X=Cl, Br, I) additive becomes indispensable in the fabrication process, which highlights the importance of incorporating a reducing agent to improve the device stability. Additionally, efforts are made to utilize other reducing agents with different functions for the further enhancement of device performance. Currently, Sn‐based PSCs could attain a record efficiency over 10% with great stability. In this review, we present the recent progress on reducing agents for improving the stability of Sn‐based PSCs, and we hope to shed light on the challenges and opportunities of this research field.     

控制碘化铅形貌两步连续刮涂法大面积制备甲脒基钙钛矿薄膜

钙钛矿太阳能电池在实现高性能光伏器件方面展现出巨大的商业化应用前景,但面临着一个最主要的挑战是开发工业化规模生产的大面积高质量钙钛矿薄膜制备工艺。在本研究中,为解决大面积印刷难题,通过两步连续刮涂法制备甲脒基钙钛矿吸光层。两步法中第一步沉积的PbI₂很容易形成致密的薄膜,这将导致后续沉积的有机胺盐无法和PbI₂充分完全反应,在钙钛矿薄膜中残留PbI₂,这会严重影响载流子的传输。为了实现理想的多孔PbI₂薄膜结构,我们通过在PbI₂前驱体溶液中引入四亚甲基亚砜(THTO)。通过形成PbI₂·THTO络合物,PbI₂的结晶过程被有效控制,易形成片状的PbI₂晶粒并沿着垂直基底方向上排列,得到了理想的纳米通道。这为后续的有机胺盐渗入提供了理想的纳米通道。最终5 cm × 5 cm模组实现了18.65%的功率转化效率,并具有出色的存储和热稳定性。这一结果展现了两步连续刮涂法策略在制备大面积钙钛矿太阳能电池方面具备一定的优势。     

Recent Progress and Emerging Applications of Rare Earth Doped Phosphor Materials for Dye‐Sensitized and Perovskite Solar Cells: A Review

Although the efficiency of Dye‐sensitized and Perovskite solar cell is still below the performance level of market dominance silicon solar cells, in last few years they have grabbed significant attention because of their fabrication ease using low‐cost materials, and henceforth these cells are considered as a promising alternative to commercial photovoltaic devices. However, third generation solar cells have significant absorption in the visible region of solar spectrum, which confines their power conversion efficiency. Subsequently, the performance of current photovoltaics is significantly hampered by the transmission loss of sub‐band‐gap photons. To overcome these issues, rare earth doped luminescent materials is the favorable route followed to convert these transmitted sub‐band‐gap photons into above‐band‐gap light, where solar cells typically have significant light‐scattering effects. Moreover, the rare earth based down/up conversion material facilitates the improvement in sensitization, light‐scattering and device stability of these devices. This review provides insight into the application of various down/up conversion materials for Dye‐sensitized and perovskite solar cell applications. Additionally, the paper discusses the techniques to improve the photovoltaic performance in terms of current density and photo voltage in detail.     

Material and Interface Engineering for High‐Performance Perovskite Solar Cells: A Personal Journey and Perspective

Hybrid organic‐inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have become a shining star in the photovoltaic field due to their spectacular increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 3.8 % to over 23 % in just few years, opening up the potential in addressing the important future energy and environment issues. The excellent photovoltaic performance can be attributed to the unique properties of the organometal halide perovskite materials, including high absorption coefficient, tunable bandgap, high defect tolerance, and excellent charge transport characteristics. The authors entered this field when pursuing research on dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) by leveraging nanorods arrays for vectorial transport of the extracted electrons. Soon after, we and others realized that while the organometal halide perovskite materials have excellent intrinsic properties for solar cells, interface engineering is at least equally important in the development of high‐performance PSCs, which includes surface defect passivation, band alignment, and heterojunction formation. Herein, we will address this topic by presenting the historical development and recent progress on the interface engineering of PSCs primarily of our own group. This review is mainly focused on the material and interface design of the conventional n‐i‐p, inverted p‐i‐n and carbon electrode‐based structure devices from our own experience and perspective. Finally, the challenges and prospects of this area for future development will also be discussed.     

钙钛矿型太阳电池研究进展

自从2009年钙钛矿材料被应用到太阳电池领域,到现在仅6年的时间里,钙钛矿型太阳电池的光伏转换效率从约3%提高到20.1%,受到全球瞩目。 本文对近年来钙钛矿型太阳电池的发展进行了综述,介绍了钙钛矿吸光材料的性能及其制备,总结了钙钛矿型太阳电池器件结构及其内在机理,探讨了该类型电池待突破的方向和可能的解决途径,阐述了钙钛矿型太阳电池的进展历程,展望了未来发展方向。     

钙钛矿太阳电池吸光层材料研究进展

近年来,有机-无机卤化铅钙钛矿太阳电池的研究取得了突破性进展,公证记录电池效率22.1%,与CdTe薄膜电池（认证记录电池效率22.1%）和CuInGaSn（CIGS）（认证记录电池效率22.3%）薄膜电池技术相媲美,已经接近于市场上主导地位的晶体硅太阳电池（约25%）。有机卤化铅钙钛矿太阳电池器件的长期效率输出稳定性和含毒性Pb严重制约其实际应用。本文将讨论有机卤化铅钙钛矿太阳电池不稳定性因素和相应的解决方案,并对钙钛矿材料中Pb元素的取代工作和无机非铅钙钛矿材料及其太阳电池的研究进行了阐述与展望。