Materials and Methods for High-Efficiency Perovskite Solar Modules

Beginning with the breakthrough of solid-state perovskite-sensitized solar cells in 2012, the number of studies on photovoltaic devices based on halide perovskite materials has exploded. As of 2021, the certificated record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of small-area perovskite solar cells (≈0.1 cm² active area) is 25.5%, making them very competitive with conventional silicon solar cells (26.7%) in terms of efficiency. For commercialization and large-scale manufacturing purposes, it is necessary to develop high-efficiency large-area perovskite photovoltaics with minimal PCE loss. Herein, the recent progress of perovskite solar modules (PSMs) is reviewed and a research direction toward high-efficiency PSMs is proposed. It is important to carefully examine the materials and methods used for development of high-efficiency scalable perovskite solar cells and modules as the uniformity and quality of large-area perovskite film significantly affect the PCE, more so than in small-area devices. Precursor, additive, and interface engineering are described as well as various coating methodologies for suitable PSMs. Engineering of uniform, pinhole-free, and high-quality large-area perovskite films can contribute to high-efficiency PSMs and pave the way for commercialization. The technologies used for materials and method engineering for high-efficiency PSMs are discussed, with an eye toward commercialization.