Before reaching large-scale production and deployment of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), their entire lifecycle - from preparation and operation to discarding, needs to be carefully considered. In a recent study, researchers from Donghua University and Kyushu University used bio-derived chitin-based polymers to realize the full lifecycle regulation of air-processed PSCs by forming multiple coordinated and hydrogen bonds to stabilize the lead iodide and organic salt precursor inks, accelerating the solid–liquid reaction and crystallization of two-step deposition process, then achieving the high crystalline and oriented perovskites with less notorious charge defects in the open air.
The air-prepared PSCs exhibited an efficiency of 25.18% with high preparation reproducibility and improved operational stability toward the harsh environment and mechanical stress stimuli. The modified PSCs displayed negligible fatigue behavior, keeping 92% of its initial efficiency after operating for 32 diurnal cycles (ISOS-LC-1 protocol).
Meanwhile, closed-loop lead management of end-of-life PSCs including suppression of lead leakage, toxicity evaluation of broken devices, and recycling of lead iodide components were comprehensively investigated.
This work sheds light on a promising avenue to realize the entire lifecycle regulation of air-processed efficient and stable PSCs.
