Enhancing operational stability in perovskite solar cells by solvent-free encapsulation method†
Abstract
The long-term stability of perovskite solar cells is one of the main concerns regarding the upscaling of this technology. In this paper, we develop a simple, fast, and green method to encapsulate perovskite solar cells, maintaining the optoelectronic properties after water immersion. The use of a photo-curable monomer as a sealant offers a fast encapsulation process as well as avoids the need of solvent that could degrade the perovskite layer. Electrical characterization of the devices (J–V curves and IS) barely shows any changes in the sample's behaviour. In addition, encapsulated samples kept 80% of their initial PCE after the aging test (e.g., ISOS-D-1) as well as after exposure to harsh environmental conditions such as high humidity (>80% RH) and elevated temperature (140 °C). The article presents an insight into the electrical processes after the encapsulation method, paving the way to the development of an efficient method to protect high efficient solar cells.