Revolutionary Fabrication Technique Boosts Flexible Solar Cell Efficiency

• Revolutionary fabrication technique boosts power efficiency of flexible perovskite solar cells, paving the way for widespread commercial applications in aerospace and electronics.

A new fabrication technique has been developed by a team of material scientists in China that has significantly increased the power efficiency of flexible solar cells made from perovskite, a class of compounds with a specific crystalline structure. The current flexible perovskite solar cells (FPSCs) have lower power conversion efficiency compared to rigid solar cells due to the soft and inhomogeneous characteristics of the flexible base material, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The new chemical bath deposition (CBD) method developed by the researchers allows for the deposition of tin oxide (SnO2) on a flexible substrate without requiring a strong acid, making it compatible with acid-sensitive flexible substrates. This method has led to a new benchmark for the highest power conversion efficiency for FPSCs at 25.09% and demonstrated improved durability with cells maintaining 90% of their power conversion efficiency after being bent 10,000 times.

The increased efficiency and durability of these flexible solar cells pave the way for their use in various applications, including aerospace and flexible electronics, where space and weight are crucial factors. The researchers aim to transition these high-efficiency FPSCs from laboratory scale to industrial production to enable widespread commercial application in wearable technology, portable electronics, aerospace power sources, and large-scale renewable energy solutions.

What new fabrication technique boosts power efficiency of flexible perovskite solar cells?

• The new fabrication technique developed by material scientists in China is called chemical bath deposition (CBD)
• This technique allows for the deposition of tin oxide (SnO2) on a flexible substrate without requiring a strong acid
• The CBD method is compatible with acid-sensitive flexible substrates, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
• The new technique has led to a new benchmark for the highest power conversion efficiency for flexible perovskite solar cells (FPSCs) at 25.09%
• The cells also demonstrated improved durability, maintaining 90% of their power conversion efficiency after being bent 10,000 times
• The increased efficiency and durability of these flexible solar cells make them suitable for use in aerospace and flexible electronics
• The researchers aim to transition these high-efficiency FPSCs from laboratory scale to industrial production for widespread commercial application in wearable technology, portable electronics, aerospace power sources, and large-scale renewable energy solutions.