Researchers at UC Santa Barbara, Pusan National University and Korea Electric Power Research Institute have introduced a simple approach to produce high-quality perovskite films at room temperature by precisely regulating the perovskite composition with the addition of an organic linker (oleylamine, OAm). This work aims to address the challenge presented by current processes for manufacturing PSCs - that tend to rely on high-temperature annealing and intricate post-treatments.

The team’s innovation not only simplified the production process but also increased the material’s efficiency from under 20% to 24.4%. The method enabled phase conversion to the stable α-phase without thermal annealing, as confirmed by in situ X-ray monitoring. The optimized device achieved impressive efficiencies of 23.2% (24.4% with an anti-reflective coating), surpassing efficiencies attained by previous room/low-temperature-processed PSCs. 

Homerun Resources and Halocell Energy have announced that they executed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes that the Companies will collaborate to develop and produce high efficiency and stable outdoor Solar Glass / PSC solutions.

Under the terms of the MOU, Halocell and Homerun agree to provide technical assistance to each other to develop the best outdoor Solar Glass / PSC solutions.

Researchers from Wuhan University, University of South Florida, CNRS and Nanoneurosciences recently reported the first crystalline 2D Fullerene based Metal Halide Semiconductor, (C₆₀-2NH₃)Pb₂I₆.

Designing functionalized C60 adducts at the Spanopoulos Group at USF

According to the team, single crystal XRD studies elucidated the structure of the new material, while DFT calculations highlighted the strong contribution of C₆₀-2NH₃ to the electronic density of states of the conduction band of the material. Utilization of C₆₀-2NH₃ as an interlayer between a FA_0.6MA_0.4Pb_0.7Sn_0.3I₃ perovskite and a C60 layer reportedly offered superior band energy alignment, reduced nonradiative recombination, and enhanced carrier mobility.

Solaires Enterprises and XLYNX Materials recently announced a collaboration which will focus on building efficient and stable perovskite solar cells to “unlock the full potential of recycled light”. 

The partnership between the two Canada-based companies aims to help engineer the future of solar energy, according to Dr. Sahar Sam, a cofounder of Solaires Enterprises. “Through collaboration with XLYNX Materials, we are one step closer to making solar energy even more sustainable, cost-effective, and accessible,” Sam stated. 

Toray Engineering says that it will ship large size slot-die coaters for an upcoming Gigawatt scale (GW) perovskite production line. The first shipment is scheduled in the second quarter of 2024.

This upcoming production line will be the world’s largest perovskite PV production line, with a glass size of over 2 meters in size. Toray plans to ship multiple large-scale (over 2 meter) slot-die coaters in 2024 for perovskite production.

Toray Engineering’s slot-die coaters have already been used worldwide in perovskite coating processes in several installations. The company reports that market and customer demand is on the rise, and several companies are planning to construct large-area perovskite production lines, with glasses over 2.4 meters in size. Toray Engineering has produced and sold over 800 large-size slot-die coater systems, and is the only company that has successfully produced and shipped large slot-die coaters.

Researchers from Soochow University, Hunan University and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg have incorporated pseudo-halogen thiocyanate (SCN) ions in iodide/bromide mixed halide perovskites and showed that they enhance crystallization and reduce grain boundaries. 

While perovskite/organic tandem solar cells could theoretically achieve high efficiency and stability, their performance is hindered by a process known as phase segregation, which degrades the performance of wide-bandgap perovskite cells and adversely affects recombination processes at the tandem solar cells' interconnecting layer. The team devised a strategy to suppress phase segregation in wide-bandgap perovskites, thus boosting the performance and stability of perovskite/organic tandem cells. This strategy entails the use of a pseudo-triple-halide alloy incorporated in mixed halide perovskites based on iodine and bromine.

An international group of researchers, led by the Chungbuk National University in South Korea, has reported a tin halide perovskite (Sn-HP) solar cell that uses an additive known as 4-Phenylthiosemicarbazide (4PTSC) to reduce imperfections in the perovskite layer.

Using wide bandgap tin halide perovskites (Sn-HP) could pose an eco-friendly option for multi-junction Sn-HP photovoltaics, but rapid crystallization often results in poor film morphology and substantial defect states, hampering device efficiency. The team's work aims to introduce a novel multifunctional additive to tackle these issues.

Researchers from Austria's Johannes Kepler University Linz have developed lightweight, thin (<2.5 μm), flexible and transparent-conductive-oxide-free quasi 2D perovskite solar cells by incorporating alpha-methylbenzyl ammonium iodide into the photoactive perovskite layer. 

The team fabricated the devices directly on an ultrathin polymer foil coated with an alumina barrier layer to ensure environmental and mechanical stability without compromising weight and flexibility.

Researchers from the University of Stuttgart, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg have introduced a simplified deposition procedure for multidimensional (2D/3D) perovskite thin films, integrating a phenethylammonium chloride (PEACl)-treatment into the antisolvent step when forming the 3D perovskite. 

The “traditional” deposition and passivation processes (top row) and the integrated deposition and passivation strategy to form 2D passivated 3D halide perovskite films (bottom row). Image from Advanced Materials.

This recently developed simultaneous deposition and passivation strategy reduces the number of synthesis steps while simultaneously stabilizing the halide perovskite film and improving the photovoltaic performance of resulting solar cell devices to 20.8%. 

Researchers at Austria's Johannes Kepler University Linz have developed lightweight, thin (<2.5 μm), flexible and transparent-conductive-oxide-free quasi-two-dimensional perovskite solar cells by incorporating alpha-methylbenzyl ammonium iodide into the photoactive perovskite layer. 

The team fabricated the devices directly on an ultrathin polymer foil coated with an alumina barrier layer to ensure environmental and mechanical stability without compromising weight and flexibility.