Review of module designs for organic and perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Organic solar cells (OSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are emerging as promising next-generation alternatives to conventional silicon solar cells because of their rapidly increasing power conversion efficiency (PCE); potential for low-cost manufacturing; and suitability for diverse applications, including building- and vehicle-integrated photovoltaics, space-based solar power sources, and portable power sources. With the certified PCEs of OSCs and PSCs reaching 19.2% and 27.0%, respectively, significant effort is now directed toward upscaling these cells for commercialization. However, this transition presents a critical challenge: compared with those of their small-area cell (~ 0.1 cm2) counterparts, the PCEs of large-area modules (> 10 cm2) typically decrease by 20–30%, posing a significant barrier to the replacement of silicon-based technologies. While laser scribing is a prevalent technique for producing efficient large-area modules, it frequently introduces process-induced damage and stability concerns, as well as high process costs. This review critically examines the various module designs that are used in OSC and PSC fabrication schemes, summarizes the tradeoffs among different patterning techniques, and proposes future design directions that can bridge the efficiency gap and provide enhanced long-term stability.