Synchronized-pressing fabrication of cost-efficient crystalline perovskite solar cells via intermediate engineering

Abstract

A cost-effective fabrication method that can produce a remarkable enhancement in the device efficiency along with a reduction in the fabrication cost is one of the crucial requirements for the commercialization of perovskite-based solar cells. Here, we report a low-cost, printable, and highly effective synchronized-pressing annealing (SPA) method for inverted planar perovskite solar cells. In this method, two films are combined face-to-face for annealing, and separated as in a roll-to-roll process. Consequently, the SPA method provides two homogeneous highly crystalline MAPbI₃ films with monolithic millimeter-scale crystalline grains by intermediate-induced crystallization engineering. The grains present a tendency of oriented growth along the <110> direction, parallel to the substrate, which leads to efficient charge transport. The IPSCs fabricated by the SPA method demonstrate a high efficiency of ∼17% with significantly enhanced photocurrents and fill factors. Moreover, the characteristics of both top and bottom devices are very similar, with nearly identical J–V curves and photoresponse spectra. As the SPA method is compatible with the printing technology for mass production, and as it can produce twin devices of high quality via one fabrication process, it can provide a remarkable reduction in the fabrication cost.