Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

5-2023

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph. D.

Department

Chemical Engineering

Degree Program

Chemical Engineering, PhD

Committee Chair

Gupta, Gautam

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Druffel, Thad

Committee Member

Druffel, Thad

Committee Member

Amos, Delaina

Committee Member

Willing, Gerold

Author's Keywords

perovskites; solar cells; renewable energy; manufacturing; intense pulse light

Abstract

Perovskite solar cell (PSC) technology offers a promising alternative to silicon-based photovoltaics (PVs), but challenges of stability, module efficiency, and scalability hinder commercialization. This study aims to explore potential solutions to overcome scalability and cost limitations of PSCs, addressing technical barriers to commercialization. We adapt the conventional three-stage perovskite deposition process (deposition, translational phase formation, and annealing) for scalable platforms using wide-area depositions, meniscus coating methods, forced laminar airflow drying, and radiative annealing methods, making it more suitable for roll-to-roll fabrication. A technoeconomic analysis shows that large-scale operations can produce solar films at a cost of $0.04-$0.10 per watt, making perovskite solar technology economically viable. Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) combined with rapid drying steps reduces processing time for blade-coated perovskite thin films, yielding a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.58% for devices fabricated on flexible ITO-coated PET substrates. This study develops a mixed-cation perovskite ink with a robust coating window, utilizing compositional engineering and intense pulsed light (IPL) annealing. The resulting blade-coated, flexible mixed-cation PSCs on ITO-PET substrates achieved a champion PCE of 16.7% using IPL annealing. This work contributes to the commercialization of perovskite solar technologies by integrating compositional engineering and post-deposition treatments, and challenging conventional approaches to PSC fabrication. Radiative annealing techniques, such as RTA and IPL, offer scalable, rapid, and cost-effective production of PSCs, with potential to outpace silicon PV production and contribute to the global renewable energy landscape. Future research should focus on stability, module development, and durability testing under realistic operating conditions.

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