Abstract
Mesoscopic carbon‐based lead halide perovskite solar cells (CPSCs) represent a promising architecture for commercialization in the field of perovskite photovoltaics as they are stable, potentially low cost, and use easily scaled production methods. However, the use of toxic and psychoactive solvents such as dimethylformamide (DMF) and γ‐butyrolactone (GBL) currently limits their commercial viability: DMF introduces a significant health risk and GBL is subject to legal restrictions in many countries. The development of safe and effective solvent systems is therefore an essential step toward commercial viability. Herein, γ‐valerolactone (GVL) is presented as a nontoxic, biodegradable, green alternative to GBL for CPSC fabrication. Cells fabricated with a precursor concentration of 1.1 m and annealed at 45 °C exhibit comparable performance to standard GBL devices, achieving a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.91% in a device of 1 cm2 active area. Herein, it is proven that GVL is a viable alternative to GBL for CPSCs and enables research in countries where GBL is legally restricted and makes large‐scale CPSC manufacture more sustainable.
Highlights
Since their advent in 2009, lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs)Fabricated via sequential screen printing of mesoporous TiO2, ZrO2, and carbon before drop casting of the perovskite precursor, carbon-based lead halide perovskite solar cells (CPSCs) are highly stable, benefitting from both the lack of a hole have rapidly progressed to exhibit power conversion efficiencies transporter and the presence of a >20 μm-thick, encompassing (PCEs) of 25.5%, approaching that of commercially available mono- mesoporous scaffold, which provides mechanical stability and crystalline silicon devices.[1,2,3,4] In addition to exhibiting excellent car- limits oxygen and moisture access.[17]
In CPSCs, the perovskite precursor is generally incorporated into the mesoscopic triple stack via drop casting through the top electrode
UVÀvis analysis of precursor solutions and X-ray diffraction (XRD) of infiltrated TiO2 scaffolds was conducted before initial device trials to compare the precursor absorption characteristics and confirm that the GVL-based solutions formed MAPbI3 without degradation under standard GBL annealing conditions
Summary
Fabricated via sequential screen printing of mesoporous TiO2, ZrO2, and carbon before drop casting of the perovskite precursor, CPSCs are highly stable, benefitting from both the lack of a hole have rapidly progressed to exhibit power conversion efficiencies transporter and the presence of a >20 μm-thick, encompassing (PCEs) of 25.5%, approaching that of commercially available mono- mesoporous scaffold, which provides mechanical stability and crystalline silicon devices.[1,2,3,4] In addition to exhibiting excellent car- limits oxygen and moisture access.[17]. Much less toxic than DMF/DMSO systems, GBL is a legally restricted psychoactive.[32] Despite relatively low oral toxicity, the doses for psychoactive effects can be close to lethal amounts, introducing a significant health risk for users.[33,34] As such, GBL is subject to legal restrictions in many countries. This introduces legislative costs at large scale and can hamper lab-scale research, where access to solvents is prohibited. This work can provide an avenue toward more commercially viable CPSCs and enable continued CPSC research in countries where GBL is prohibited
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