Perovskite solar cells Carbon electrodes for greater efficiency and stability

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The efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells are to be improved as part of a European project. This is to be achieved using low-temperature carbon electrodes. Production is to be carried out using the roll-to-roll process.

In photovoltaic technology, silicon-based solar cells are still the predominant technology. However, research on perovskite solar cells has made rapid progress in the last 15 years. This cost-effective and versatile material and its functionality have the potential to significantly increase solar cell efficiency. Thus, the efficiency increased from an initial four percent to well over 20 percent and promises a breakthrough for perovskite solar cells in the near future.

However, they currently still have significant deficiencies in terms of their stability and durability. This currently still complicates long-term use. The efficiency loss of perovskite cells within the first few months after production is significant. Therefore, research teams around the world are working on a solution and environmentally friendly process techniques for their production.

Improved perovskite solar cells

The European Union has launched the research project "PEARL – Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells with Carbon Electrodes" which aims to further develop perovskite solar cell technology. The project aims to make significant advances in solar energy technology by integrating carbon electrodes into the perovskite solar cell architecture. The researchers expect these measures to reduce material costs, increase device stability, simplify the manufacturing process, and ultimately reduce emissions.

The ten European partners of the project consortium are pursuing the main goal of the PEARL project—to advance the development of flexible perovskite solar cells with scalable, environmentally friendly methods—in order to optimize them for industrial use. The project aims to achieve a long-term operational stability that exceeds the current standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). At the same time, an efficiency of over 25 percent and a reduction of production costs to below 0.3 euros/W_p is aimed for, while the emissions are to be limited to less than 0.01 kg CO₂eq/kWh.

Different component architectures

The project focuses on researching planar, conventional n-i-p- (n-type semiconductor, intrinsic layer, p-type semiconductor) and other n-i-c device architectures, integrating a carbon layer as the top electrode. The plan is to use low-temperature carbon pastes as top electrodes and manufacture them using roll-to-roll technology. These architectures offer a promising basis for improving the efficiency and stability of solar cells.

The use of carbon electrodes, which can be applied at low temperatures, is cost-effective and environmentally friendly and facilitates improved stability of perovskite solar cells as they are less susceptible to degradation under real operating conditions. The manufacture of solar cells using roll-to-roll technology allows for cost-effective and large-scale production. This method is already successfully used in thin-film technology and enables continuous production of flexible solar cells on long film strips. This is particularly advantageous for integration into flexible applications such as building and vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV and VIPV).

Dr. Riikka Suhonen, the PEARL project coordinator from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, emphasizes the importance of the project: “With PEARL, we are not only developing a new technology, but we are laying the foundation for the next generation of solar energy. Our innovative approach with carbon electrodes will not only improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells, but also ensure that these benefits are accessible and sustainable worldwide." (heh)