Development of all thin-film PERovskite on CIS TANDem photovoltaics

Project Information

PERCISTAND

Grant agreement ID: 850937

DOI

10.3030/850937

Project closed

EC signature date 21 October 2019

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 30 June 2023

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 5 055 821,41

EU contribution

€ 4 997 437,50

Coordinated by

INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PERCISTAND (Development of all thin-film PERovskite on CIS TANDem photovoltaics)

Reporting period: 2021-07-01 to 2023-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Estimations suggest that increased efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) appliances above the Shockley-Queisser single-junction limit is related to the creation of tandem devices. PERCISTAND focuses on the development of advanced materials and processes for all thin film perovskite on chalcogenide tandem devices. This tandem configuration is at an early stage of development today. The PERCISTAND emphasis is on 4-terminal tandem solar cell and module prototype demonstration on glass substrates, but also current- and voltage-matched 2-terminal proof-of-concept device structures are envisaged. Key research activities are the development and optimization of top wide band gap perovskite and bottom low band gap CuInSe2 devices, suitable transparent conductive oxides, and integration into tandem configurations. The focus is on obtaining high efficiency, stability, and large-area manufacturability, at low production cost and environmental footprint. Efficiency target is 30 % at cell level, and 25 % at module level. Reliability and stability, tested in line with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, must be similar as commercially available PV technologies. High manufacturability means that all technologies applied are scalable to 20×20 cm2, using sustainable and low-cost materials and processes. The cost and environmental impact will be assessed in line with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and must be competitive with existing commercial PV technologies.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

- The best obtained 4T tandem solar cells feature >27% efficiency. Several combinations of partners reported similar values. Significant margins for progression to 30% are identified. A functional 400 cm2 area demonstrator was realized.
- Perovskite mini-modules with low cell-to-module losses are demonstrated by several partners, best module efficiencies >15% for 10 cm2. 4T tandem mini-module with 20.8% efficiency. Very promising results of the accelerated ageing tests (e.g. perovskite module with 5000 h T80 lifetime at 85°C).
- Opaque perovskite solar cells with best-value efficiencies above 24% were fabricated. The stability of perovskite cells reached 97% of initial efficiency after 1150h at 60 °C in nitrogen and AM1.5 continuous illumination. Furthermore, scalable processes were developed with best-value efficiencies > 18% for slot-die coated perovskite layers. Pb-free solar cells were investigated leading to > 9% efficiency.
- Semi-transparent perovskite solar cells (different architectures, bandgaps) with efficiencies of 18-20% and weighted transmission > 80% in the NIR were fabricated. Design rules for high performance perovskite/CIS tandem solar cells to achieve power conversion efficiencies reaching 30% and beyond (4-terminal and 2-terminal architecture) are established.
- An optimized small-area (0.5 cm2) CIS solar cell of 1.00-eV bandgap with efficiency of 19.4 has been made. The computed cell performance under NIR illumination conditions (Edmund Optics long-pass 760 nm filter) was 7.9%. The CIS stack has been successfully scaled up to 30 cm × 30 cm with a bandgap of 1.01 eV all over the area. The highest active-area power conversion efficiencies were 15.4% and 6.5% under 1-sun and NIR illumination, respectively.
- We achieved the highest published perovskite-on-CIGS monolithically integrated tandem device with a power conversion efficiency of 25.0%. At TNO/KIT, a perovskite/CIS device of 24.9% was measured in-house and certified at 23.5%. At KIT/EMPA, a tandem device reaching > 25% was measured inhouse and certified at 24.1%. See WP 5 for details.
- We developed a life-cycle and techno-economic model and studied costs and GHG emissions of different PV technologies (including perovskite/CIS) when manufactured in EU, China, or the USA, as if production were to take place now and out to 2050

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

This tandem technology significantly outperforms not only the stand-alone perovskite and chalcogenide devices, but also best single-junction silicon devices. The development has been primarily on glass substrates, but also applicable to flexible substrates and thus interesting for building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solutions, an important market for thin film PV. Hence, the outcome has high potential to strengthen and regain the EU leadership in thin film PV research and manufacturing.

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