Energy Materials Corporation

Scott Kenneth Christensen

Thomas Nathaniel Tombs

Stephan J DeLuca

Qi Li

A bifacial photovoltaic structure includes a transparent substrate, a perovskite absorber layer overlaying the substrate, a transparent first composite conductor interposed between the substrate and the perovskite absorber layer, and a transparent second composite conductor disposed over the perovskite absorber layer. The first composite conductor includes a first set of metal lines, and a first conducting layer provided in contact with the metal lines, wherein the first set of metal lines is characterized by a first set of dimensions and a first metallic composition. The second composite conductor includes a second conducting layer, and a second set of metal lines provided in contact with the second conducting layer, wherein the second set of metal lines is characterized by a second set of dimensions and a second metallic composition. The dimensions and/or compositions of the first and second composite conductors are different.

Photovoltaic structures having a composite conductor

A method for making a perovskite layer includes providing a substrate; providing a perovskite solution comprising first and second polar, protic solvents each having a boiling point less than 135 degrees Celsius, an inorganic perovskite precursor, and an organic perovskite precursor, wherein the first solvent is an alcohol-based glycol ether capable of dissolving the inorganic Perovskite precursor material, the second solvent is an aliphatic alcohol, and the perovskite solution has a total initial amount of solvent greater than 30 percent by weight and a total solids concentration that is between 30 percent and 70 percent by weight of the Perovskite solution's saturation concentration: depositing the perovskite solution at a temperature of from 20 to 40 degrees Celsius on the substrate at a first location; removing a first portion of the initial amount of solvent from the deposited perovskite solution with a first drying step having a first drying step dwell time at a second location wherein the temperature of the first drying step is maintained between 20 and 40 degrees Celsius and the first drying step increases the total solids concentration of the perovskite solution to at least 75 percent of its saturation concentration; and removing a second portion of the initial amount of solvent from the deposited perovskite solution with a second drying step having a higher rate of solvent evaporation than the first drying step during a second drying step dwell time at a third location that causes saturation and a conversion reaction in the deposited perovskite solution resulting in perovskite crystal formation or formation of a perovskite intermediate phase, wherein the substrate is moved at a constant speed from the first location to the second location, and from the second location to the third location. A continuous inline method for production of photovoltaic devices at high speed, and a perovskite solution for use in making a uniform Perovskite layer at high speed to enable low cost production of high efficiency Perovskite devices are also described.

Method for making a perovskite layer at high speed

A continuous inline method for production of photovoltaic devices at high speed includes: providing a substrate; depositing a first carrier transport solution layer with a first carrier transport deposition device to form a first carrier transport layer on the substrate; depositing a Perovskite solution comprising solvent and perovskite precursor materials with a Perovskite solution deposition device on the first carrier transport layer; drying the deposited Perovskite solution to form a Perovskite absorber layer; and depositing a second carrier transport solution with a second carrier transport deposition device to form a second carrier transport layer on the Perovskite absorber layer, wherein the deposited Perovskite solution is dried at least partially with a fast drying device which causes a conversion reaction and the Perovskite solution to change in optical density by at least a factor of 2 in less than 0.5 seconds after the fast drying device first acts on the Perovskite solution.

Method of making a photovoltaic device on a substrate at high speed with perovskite solution

A method of making a perovskite layer includes providing a flexible substrate; providing a perovskite solution comprising an initial amount of solvent and perovskite precursor materials and a total solids concentration between 30 percent and 70 percent by weight of its saturation concentration; depositing the perovskite solution on the flexible substrate; removing a first portion of the solvent from the deposited perovskite solution and increasing the total solids concentration of the perovskite solution to at least 75 percent of its saturation concentration with a first drying step; and removing a second portion of the solvent from the deposited perovskite solution with a second drying step having a higher rate of solvent evaporation that causes saturation and a conversion reaction in the deposited perovskite solution resulting in perovskite crystal formation or formation of a perovskite intermediate phase, wherein the first drying step dwell time is at least 5 times longer than the second drying step dwell time.

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North Chili, NY, United States of America

Scott Kenneth Christensen