14 Jan. Sustainable and commercial production of perovskite solar cells
Researchers at Nanjing University in China and the University of Stuttgart report on the development of a novel environmentally friendly method to produce perovskite photovoltaic modules at commercial scale.
The researchers explain that photovoltaic modules (PV modules) made of perovskite offer numerous advantages, such as low weight, high efficiency, and good scalability, and they are inexpensive and easy to produce. However, there are still obstacles to their commercial use. For example, toxic solvents are used in the manufacturing process to dissolve the perovskite crystals, which are then processed into perovskite inks. These inks can be printed, applied, or sprayed on like paint. However, according to the researchers, applying them to large areas leads to variations in quality.
Environmentally friendly with consistent quality
“Our study addresses these challenges,” says Prof. Michael Saliba, head of the Institute for Photovoltaics (ipv) at the University of Stuttgart. “We have succeeded in demonstrating how high-performance perovskite-based PV modules can be manufactured in an environmentally friendly and reliable manner under ambient air conditions.”
Perovskites have a special crystal structure. The arrangement of the building blocks enables the material to absorb and convert light particularly efficiently.
Image: University of Stuttgart / Claudiu Mortan
The perovskite experts have not only developed a new environmentally friendly solvent that is compatible with the environment. “We were also able to develop a process that allows us to apply the green perovskite ink evenly and precisely, so that there are no irregularities in the perovskite layer and thus no loss of efficiency,” explains Prof. Hairen Tan, a scientist at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Nanjing University. “This enables us to manufacture perovskite PV modules in an environmentally friendly way, maximize the performance of the entire module, and ensure its reliable operation in the long term,” adds Saliba, whose team tested the manufactured modules in outdoor test stands on the roofs of the Institute of Photovoltaics.
According to the researchers, the new system enables the production of perovskite photovoltaic modules with an area of 7200 square centimeters, which achieve an efficiency of 17.2% under constant operating conditions and meet all quality and reliability standards.
Original publication:
[Yinke Wang, Ye Liu, Xin Luo, Ke Xiao, Victor Marrugat-Arnal, Dongdong Xu, Jing Lou, Weiwei Zuo, Navid Tavakoli, Tiantian Li , Yuanbo Yang, Chenyang Duan, Wennan Ou, Yuxuan Liu, Jiajia Hong, Hongfei Sun, Gongtao Duan, Manya Li, Han Gao, Zijing Chu, Long Jiang, Michael Saliba, Makhsud I Saidaminov, Chao Chang, Hairen Tan: Improved solvent systems for commercially viable perovskite photovoltaic modules. Science, 2025 Dec 4;390 (6777): 1021-1028s. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adz0091]
Source: www.uni-stuttgart.de
Image: Universität Stuttgart / ipv / Weiwei Zuo