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.
The scientists demonstrated a champion specific power of 44 W g−1 (average: 41 W g−1), an open-circuit voltage of 1.15 V and a champion efficiency of 20.1% (average: 18.1%).
To show scalability, they fabricated a photovoltaic module consisting of 24 interconnected 1 cm2 solar cells and demonstrated energy-autonomous operation of a hybrid solar-powered quadcopter, while constituting only 1/400 of the drone’s weight.
The performance and stability demonstration of ultra-lightweight perovskite solar cells highlights the potential as portable and cost-effective sustainable energy harvesting devices.
