Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells: Degradation Mechanisms and Remedies

Inorganic–organic metal halide perovskite light harvester-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have come to the limelight of solar cell research due to their rapid growth in efficiency. At present, stability and reliability are challenging aspects concerning the Si-based or thin film-based commercial devices. Commercialization of perovskite solar cells remains elusive due to the lack of stability of these devices under real operational conditions, especially for longer duration use. A large number of researchers have been engaged in an ardent effort to improve the stability of perovskite solar cells. Understanding the degradation mechanisms has been the primary importance before exploring the remedies for degradation. In this review, a methodical understanding of various degradation mechanisms of perovskites and perovskite solar cells is presented followed by a discussion on different steps taken to overcome the stability issues. Recent insights on degradation mechanisms are discussed. Various approaches of stability enhancement are reviewed with an emphasis on reports that complied with the operational standard for practical application in a commercial solar module. The operational stability standard enacted by the International Electrotechnical Commission is especially discussed with reports that met the requirements or showed excellent results, which is the most important criterion to evaluate a device’s actual prospect to be utilized for practical applications in commercial solar modules. An overall understanding of degradation pathways in perovskites and perovskite solar cells and steps taken to overcome those with references including state-of-the-art devices with promising operational stability can be gained from this review.

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An in situ cross-linked 1D/3D perovskite heterostructure improves the stability of hybrid perovskite solar cells for over 3000 h operation

Energy & Environmental Science ◽

10.1039/d0ee01736a ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 4344-4352

Author(s):

Ning Yang ◽

Cheng Zhu ◽

Yihua Chen ◽

Huachao Zai ◽

Chenyue Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Perovskite Solar Cell ◽

Operational Stability ◽

Hybrid Perovskite ◽

The Stability

An in situ cross-linked 1D/3D perovskite heterostructure achieved a perovskite solar cell with a 21.19% PCE and operational stability over 3000 hours.

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Toward Commercialization of Stable Devices: An Overview on Encapsulation of Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells

Crystals ◽

10.3390/cryst11050519 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 519

Author(s):

Clara A. Aranda ◽

Laura Caliò ◽

Manuel Salado

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Uv Light ◽

Light Exposure ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Depth Analysis ◽

Environmentally Sensitive ◽

The Stability ◽

Stability Issues ◽

Conversion Efficiencies ◽

Reliable Testing

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) represent a promising technology for energy harvesting due to high power conversion efficiencies up to 26%, easy manufacturing, and convenient deposition techniques, leading to added advantages over other contemporary competitors. In order to promote this technology toward commercialization though, stability issues need to be addressed. Lately, many researchers have explored several techniques to improve the stability of the environmentally-sensitive perovskite solar devices. Challenges posed by environmental factors like moisture, oxygen, temperature, and UV-light exposure, could be overcome by device encapsulation. This review focuses the attention on the different materials, methods, and requirements for suitable encapsulated perovskite solar cells. A depth analysis on the current stability tests is also included, since accurate and reliable testing conditions are needed in order to reduce mismatching involved in reporting the efficiencies of PSC.

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Progress towards High-Efficiency and Stable Tin-Based Perovskite Solar Cells

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13195092 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (19) ◽

pp. 5092 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Syed Afaq Ali Shah ◽

Muhammad Hassan Sayyad ◽

Karim Khan ◽

Kai Guo ◽

Fei Shen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

High Performance ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Low Cost ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Group Iv ◽

Absorbing Layer ◽

The Stability ◽

Stability Issues

Since its invention in 2009, Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has attracted great attention because of its low cost, numerous options of efficiency enhancement, ease of manufacturing and high-performance. Within a short span of time, the PSC has already outperformed thin-film and multicrystalline silicon solar cells. A current certified efficiency of 25.2% demonstrates that it has the potential to replace its forerunner generations. However, to commercialize PSCs, some problems need to be addressed. The toxic nature of lead which is the major component of light absorbing layer, and inherited stability issues of fabricated devices are the major hurdles in the industrialization of this technology. Therefore, new researching areas focus on the lead-free metal halide perovskites with analogous optical and photovoltaic performances. Tin being nontoxic and as one of group IV(A) elements, is considered as the most suitable alternate for lead because of their similarities in chemical properties. Efficiencies exceeding 13% have been recorded using Tin halide perovskite based devices. This review summarizes progress made so far in this field, mainly focusing on the stability and photovoltaic performances. Role of different cations and their composition on device performances and stability have been involved and discussed. With a considerable room for enhancement of both efficiency and device stability, different optimized strategies reported so far have also been presented. Finally, the future developing trends and prospects of the PSCs are analyzed and forecasted.

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Advancements in the stability of perovskite solar cells: degradation mechanisms and improvement approaches

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/c5ra27424a ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (44) ◽

pp. 38079-38091 ◽

Cited By ~ 109

Author(s):

Bobo Li ◽

Yafang Li ◽

Chaoyue Zheng ◽

Deqing Gao ◽

Wei Huang

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Metal Halide ◽

Organic Metal ◽

Degradation Mechanisms ◽

Photoactive Materials ◽

Halide Perovskites ◽

The Stability

Recently, organic metal halide perovskites have emerged as one of the most promising photoactive materials in the field of photovoltaics.

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Surface Treatment of Cu:NiOx Hole-Transporting Layer Using β-Alanine for Hysteresis-Free and Thermally Stable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano10101961 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1961

Author(s):

Fedros Galatopoulos ◽

Ioannis T. Papadas ◽

Apostolos Ioakeimidis ◽

Polyvios Eleftheriou ◽

Stelios A. Choulis

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Surface Treatment ◽

Treatment Process ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Device Performance ◽

Thermally Stable ◽

Degradation Mechanisms ◽

High Power Conversion Efficiency ◽

Hole Transporting ◽

Stability Issues

Inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) using a Cu:NiOx hole transporting layer (HTL) often exhibit stability issues and in some cases J/V hysteresis. In this work, we developed a β-alanine surface treatment process on Cu:NiOx HTL that provides J/V hysteresis-free, highly efficient, and thermally stable inverted PSCs. The improved device performance due to β-alanine-treated Cu:NiOx HTL is attributed to the formation of an intimate Cu:NiOx/perovskite interface and reduced charge trap density in the bulk perovskite active layer. The β-alanine surface treatment process on Cu:NiOx HTL eliminates major thermal degradation mechanisms, providing 40 times increased lifetime performance under accelerated heat lifetime conditions. By using the proposed surface treatment, we report optimized devices with high power conversion efficiency (PCE) (up to 15.51%) and up to 1000 h lifetime under accelerated heat lifetime conditions (60 °C, N2).

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