All Set for Efficient and Reliable Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Photovoltaic Modules?

Abstract

Over the last few years, perovskite solar cells have arisen as a technology to potentially side with mainstream silicon photovoltaics to help drive the transition towards renewable sources of energy. The coupling of perovskites with silicon in a tandem configuration may accelerate this development owing to the remarkably high power-conversion efficiencies possible with such devices. However, most of the perovskite/silicon tandem achievements so far have been confined to the lab environment, with only a few reported tests under outdoor conditions, using packaged devices. Nevertheless, one of the major challenges for perovskite/silicon tandem technologies, besides scale-up, lies in the cell-to-module (CTM) translation, which for the perovskite/silicon tandem concept is complicated by perovskite-imposed constrains such as a low temperature resilience, imposing challenges regarding tabbing and lamination, as well as a high sensitivity to moisture ingress, mandating the search for adequate encapsulation materials and methods. In this article, we describe and assess these challenges in depth and give a perspective on future directions towards module design, tailored for perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaics, combining high performance with excellent durability. Our discussion also holds relevance for all-perovskite and other emerging photovoltaic technologies seeking market entry.

Outdoor stability testing of perovskite solar cells: Necessary step toward real-life applications

“…However, detailed discussion of specific issues relevant to tandems and modules is beyond the scope of this Perspective. Recent reviews and perspectives for modules 11 and tandem cells [12][13][14] are available for further details on stability issues specific to these types of devices. Finally, remaining challenges and future outlook will be discussed.…”

Efficient and reliable encapsulation for perovskite/silicon tandem solar modules

“…Following heating, to increase the plasticity of the encapsulant, the lamination starts with an air evacuation step, crucial to guarantee the extraction of any air trapped in the polymeric network. 6 Subsequently, the lamination system's membrane starts increasing the top pressure, thus pressing the minimodule top-to-bottom. The pressing step must be optimized with different pressures and pressing times, specific for each encapsulant.…”

“…4,5 However, despite this remarkable progress in performance, perovskite PV is still pestered by a lack of long-term stability, which poses currently the largest roadblock towards commercialization. 6 To reach market maturity, PV modules composed of PSCs must meet relevant established international standards of certification, such as IEC 61215; the passing of additional, perovskite-specific tests may be required too. 7 To fulfil this challenge, significant efforts have already been undertaken to improve the stability of PSCs at the materials and device levels.…”

Organic Hole‐Transport Layers for Efficient, Stable, and Scalable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

“…[ 23 ] Moreover, PSCs can also be integrated as top cell into tandems when combining either with c‐Si, CIGS, organic or another PSC as bottom cell technology, yielding PCEs well above those of the subcells, opening pathways toward affordable ultrahigh efficient PV. [ 24–35 ] Yet, despite this rapid progress in performance, important questions remain related to the stability and scalability of PSCs, hindering their market entrance; resolving these is a multifaceted challenge, where the perovskite as well its contact layers play important roles.…”