Zhaoning Song, Yanfa Yan, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Metal halide perovskite solar cells have experienced a rapid learning curve in the past decade and have achieved power conversion efficiencies of more than 26%, surpassing those of established thin-film solar cells and approaching the record of crystalline silicon photovoltaics. As this new promising photovoltaic technology progresses toward commercialization, a critical question is how to develop high-throughput, cost-effective, and reliable production methods for depositing high-quality perovskite thin films. Among various approaches, vacuum coating methods have their unique advantages and are most relevant to semiconductor manufacturing. However, there are still significant obstacles that limit the commercial production of halide perovskite thin films using industrial vacuum coating techniques.
This presentation provides a compendious overview of vacuum coating techniques for fabricating efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. It will start with a brief review of the evolution of coating techniques for perovskite solar cells and the status of the field. The growth mechanisms of perovskite thin films through solution- and vacuum-based routes and their pros and cons will be summarized and compared. We will then highlight the challenges pertinent to vacuum coating of perovskite films and review recent advances in addressing these issues. Finally, we will provide insights into the outlook of the industrialization of vacuum coating processes for producing efficient perovskite solar cells in the future.