Single-Solution Bar-Coated Halide Perovskite Films via Mediating Crystallization for Scalable Solar Cell Fabrication

Solution-processed two-dimensional materials for next-generation photovoltaics

In the ever-increasing energy demand scenario, the development of novel photovoltaic (PV) technologies is considered to be one of the key solutions to fulfil the energy request. In this context, graphene and related two-dimensional (2D) materials (GRMs), including nonlayered 2D materials and 2D perovskites, as well as their hybrid systems, are emerging as promising candidates to drive innovation in PV technologies. The mechanical, thermal, and optoelectronic properties of GRMs can be exploited in different active components of solar cells to design next-generation devices. These components include front (transparent) and back conductive electrodes, charge transporting layers, and interconnecting/recombination layers, as well as photoactive layers. The production and processing of GRMs in the liquid phase, coupled with the ability to "on-demand" tune their optoelectronic properties exploiting wet-chemical functionalization, enable their effective integration in advanced PV devices through scalable, reliable, and inexpensive printing/coating processes. Herein, we review the progresses in the use of solution-processed 2D materials in organic solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, perovskite solar cells, quantum dot solar cells, and organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells, as well as in tandem systems. We first provide a brief introduction on the properties of 2D materials and their production methods by solution-processing routes. Then, we discuss the functionality of 2D materials for electrodes, photoactive layer components/additives, charge transporting layers, and interconnecting layers through figures of merit, which allow the performance of solar cells to be determined and compared with the state-of-the-art values. We finally outline the roadmap for the further exploitation of solution-processed 2D materials to boost the performance of PV devices.

Perpendicularly oriented 2D perovskite thin films prepared using the bar-coating method and DMSO additive

A 2D perovskite incorporating an amine moiety with a carboxy group exhibited orientation changes as the amount of DMSO additive varied. The degree of perpendicular orientation was increased by optimizing the amount of DMSO additive, while using the bar-coating method. Moreover, film thickness and the ratio of perpendicular orientation exhibited a positive correlation.

Wetting-induced formation of void-free metal halide perovskite films by green ultrasonic spray coating for large-area mesoscopic perovskite solar cells

A void-free metal halide perovskite (MHP) layer on a mesoscopic TiO2 (m-TiO2) film was formed via the wetting-induced infiltration of MHP solution in the m-TiO2 film via a green ultrasonic spray coating process using a non-hazardous solvent. The systematic investigation of the behavior of ultrasonic-sprayed MHP micro-drops on the m-TiO2 film disclosed that the void-free MHP layer on the m-TiO2 film can be formed if the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the sprayed micro-drops are merged and wetted in the mesoscopic scaffold of the m-TiO2 film, (2) the MHP solution infiltrated into the m-TiO2 film by wetting is leveled to make a smooth wet MHP film, and (3) the smooth wet MHP film is promptly heat treated to eliminate dewetting and the coffee ring effect by convective flow in order to form a uniform void-free MHP layer. A void-free MHP layer on the m-TiO2 film was formed under optimal ultrasonic spray coating conditions of substrate temperature of ∼30 °C, spray flow rate of ∼11 mL h-1, nozzle to substrate distance of ∼8 cm, and MHP solution-concentration of ∼0.6 M under a fixed scan speed of 30 mm s-1 and purged N2 carrier gas pressure of 0.02 MPa. The mesoscopic MHP solar cells with an aperture area of 0.096, 1, 25, and 100 cm2 exhibited 17.14%, 16.03%, 12.93%, and 10.67% power conversion efficiency at 1 sun condition, respectively.

Dimension-Controlled Growth of Antimony-Based Perovskite-like Halides for Lead-Free and Semitransparent Photovoltaics

Antimony (Sb) has been identified as a promising candidate for replacing toxic lead (Pb) in perovskite materials because Sb-based perovskite-like halides exhibit not only intrinsic thermodynamic stability but also a unique set of intriguing optoelectronic characteristics. However, Sb-based perovskite-like halides still suffer from poor film morphology and uncontrollable halide constituents, which result from the disorder of the growth process. Herein, we propose a simple strategy to facilitate heterogeneous nucleation and control the dimension transformation by introducing bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium (LiTFSI), which produces high-quality two-dimensional MA₃Sb₂I_9-xCl_x films. As the spacer molecule among Sb-based pyramidal clusters, LiTFSI plays a role in forming a zero-dimensional intermediate phase and retarding crystallization. The slower dimension transformation well stabilizes the band gap of perovskite-like films with a fixed Cl/I ratio (∼7:2) and avoids random "x" values in MA₃Sb₂I_9-xCl_x films prepared from the conventional method. Based on this method, Sb-based perovskite-like solar cells (PLSCs) achieve the highest recorded power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.34% and retain 90% of the initial PCE after being stored under ambient conditions for over 1400 h. More importantly, semitransparent Sb-based PLSCs with PCEs from 2.62 to 3.06% and average visible transparencies from 42 to 23% are successfully obtained, which indicates the great potential of the emerging Pb-free halide semiconductor for broad photovoltaic applications.