Printable and Lightweight Perovskite Solar Films and Devices

Invention Description

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a next generation thin film solar cell technology with advantages including high efficiency, low-cost fabrication approaches and flexile applications. However, current PSCs still require noble metal electrodes as well as expensive transparent electrodes which increase overall cost and may have instability issues, limiting commercialization. In order to make PSCs more commercially viable, more cost-effective and lightweight metal electrodes need to be explored.

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed an innovative approach to fabricating perovskite solar cells by utilizing a printable, lightweight material as a flexible and conductive substrate. The design replaces costly noble metals, such as gold and silver, typically used in solar cell electrodes, significantly reducing manufacturing costs. This novel approach reduces the cost of PSCs while increasing flexibility, making them ideal for lightweight applications such as in aerospace and satellite technologies.

This approach replaces noble metals with lightweight and highly conductive materials allowing for scalable manufacturing and reduced costs to greatly expand PSC applications.

Potential Applications

• Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)
• Scalable renewable energy systems for large-scale deployment
• Lightweight solar solutions for aerospace and satellite technologies
• Portable and wearable solar energy devices

Benefits and Advantages

• Cost Reduction - Significant reduction in material and manufacturing costs by replacing noble metals with alternate lightweight materials
• Scalable - Printable process enabling scalable and mass production
• Efficient - Compatibility with nip and pin device structures for optimized performance