Device architectures with nanocrystalline mesoporous scaffolds and thin compact layers for flexible perovskite solar cells and modules

Hybrid organometallic halide perovskite photovoltaics has seen remarkable growth in world wide research and power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) over the last two years. Key advantages of perovskites devices, together with high PCEs typical of inorganic semiconductors, are represented by the ease of deposition of the precursors of the perovskite (via ink solutions) and their low temperature processing (<140°C), more typical of organic semiconductors. These values enable coating the active layers on plastic substrates, which can make the technology compatible with continuous roll to roll manufacturing. Flexible photovoltaics is drawing strong interest as it can also bring advantages to applications where flexibility, conformability, and being lightweight and easy-to-integrate are sought. Development of the technology on flexible substrates is far from trivial. Especially important is identifying materials and techniques that are low-temperature and compatible with plastic films even for the other components of the cell like the nanometer-thin electron extraction/blocking layers and the mesoporous nanocrystalline scaffolds. We will present effective strategies and formulations that enable the realization of efficient flexible perovskite cells and the first ever CH3NH3PbI3-xClx perovskite module on plastic film.