Evaporated Perovskite Solar Cells Achieve Record 29.4% Efficiency in Tandem Configuration

Breakthrough in Perovskite Solar Cell Manufacturing

Researchers have developed an innovative evaporation-based approach for creating wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells that reportedly achieves exceptional stability and performance, according to a recent study published in Nature Materials. The new manufacturing technique, which involves carefully controlled deposition of multiple precursor materials, has enabled the creation of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with record-breaking efficiency levels while maintaining structural integrity under challenging environmental conditions.

Record-Setting Tandem Performance

The research team achieved what sources indicate is a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 29.43% for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with an area of 1 cm². This performance level demonstrates the successful application of their evaporation strategy from single-junction to tandem configurations. According to the report, the excellent performance of wide-bandgap perovskites suggests massive potential for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells in commercial applications.

Analysts suggest that this efficiency achievement positions perovskite-silicon tandems as strong contenders for next-generation photovoltaic technology, potentially surpassing the performance limits of conventional silicon solar cells. The manufacturing approach reportedly maintains consistent performance across different device architectures while addressing previous stability concerns that have hampered perovskite solar cell commercialization.

Innovative Evaporation Technique

The research team employed a sophisticated thermal evaporation process conducted in a nitrogen glovebox environment, using lead iodide, cesium bromide, and formamidinium iodide as precursors. The report states that deposition rates were meticulously controlled using quartz crystal microbalance sensors, with rates maintained at 2 Å/s for formamidinium iodide, 2 Å/s for lead iodide, and 0.9 Å/s for cesium bromide.

According to the methodology described, the chamber and substrate temperature were maintained at 20°C during deposition, with the substrate holder rotating at 10 rpm. The perovskite layer reached a thickness of 600 nm over approximately 50 minutes of processing time. Sources indicate that a key advantage of this approach is that the as-deposited films required no additional annealing step before further processing.

Advanced Materials and Characterization

The research utilized high-purity materials including cesium bromide (99.999%), lead iodide (99.99%), and specialized charge transport layers. The device architecture incorporated nickel oxide nanoparticle layers, carbon buffer layers, and tin oxide deposited via atomic layer deposition. The comprehensive characterization included synchrotron-based in situ grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements performed at the ALBA Synchrotron Light Source in Spain.

Advanced transmission electron microscopy analysis provided critical insights into structural evolution during thermal aging. The report states that high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy achieved sub-ångström resolution, enabling atomic-level structural analysis while carefully controlling electron dose to minimize beam-induced damage.

Enhanced Stability Performance

Stability testing conducted according to the ISOS-L-3 protocol under 85% relative humidity demonstrated what analysts suggest is exceptional device durability. The research team implemented specialized encapsulation techniques using UV-curable epoxy in a nitrogen-filled glovebox environment to protect the sensitive perovskite layers from environmental degradation.

For accelerated aging tests, researchers reportedly added temperature control attachments to the measurement systems to evaluate performance under elevated temperature conditions. The stability assessment included substituting certain materials, including replacing silver with gold contacts and modifying hole transport layers to optimize long-term performance.

Scientific Implications and Future Applications

The research provides what sources indicate is crucial understanding of intermediate phase evolution during perovskite formation, which appears fundamental to achieving both high performance and stability. First-principles calculations performed using the Vienna ab initio simulation package helped researchers understand the relative distribution of halides and cations within the perovskite structure.

According to analysts, this evaporation-based manufacturing approach could enable more reproducible and scalable production of perovskite solar cells compared to conventional solution-processing methods. The technique reportedly allows for better control over film morphology and composition, which are critical factors determining device performance and operational lifetime.

The successful transfer of this technology from single-junction to tandem configurations suggests broad applicability across different photovoltaic architectures. Researchers conclude that their findings establish a foundation for further development of evaporated perovskite solar cells with potential for commercial-scale manufacturing.

References & Further Reading

This article draws from multiple authoritative sources. For more information, please consult:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annealing_(materials_science)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesium_bromide
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-junction_solar_cell
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ångström
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substrate_(chemistry)

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