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Title: Enabling reliability assessments of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards [Enabling reliability of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards]

Abstract

Here, photovoltaic modules are expected to operate in the field for more than 25 years, so reliability assessment is critical for the commercialization of new photovoltaic technologies. In early development stages, understanding and addressing the device degradation mechanisms are the priorities. However, any technology targeting large-scale deployment must eventually pass industry-standard qualification tests and undergo reliability testing to validate the module lifetime. In this Perspective, we review the methodologies used to assess the reliability of established photovoltaics technologies and to develop standardized qualification tests. We present the stress factors and stress levels for degradation mechanisms currently identified in pre-commercial perovskite devices, along with engineering concepts for mitigation of those degradation modes. Recommendations for complete and transparent reporting of stability tests are given, to facilitate future inter-laboratory comparisons and to further the understanding of field-relevant degradation mechanisms, which will benefit the development of accelerated stress tests.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Oxford, Oxford (United Kingdom)
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1458908
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5K00-71472
Journal ID: ISSN 2058-7546
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nature Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 3; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 2058-7546
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; reliability; durability; standards; qualification testing; perovskite

Citation Formats

Snaith, Henry J., and Hacke, Peter. Enabling reliability assessments of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards [Enabling reliability of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards]. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1038/s41560-018-0174-4.
Snaith, Henry J., & Hacke, Peter. Enabling reliability assessments of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards [Enabling reliability of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards]. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0174-4
Snaith, Henry J., and Hacke, Peter. Fri . "Enabling reliability assessments of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards [Enabling reliability of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards]". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0174-4. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1458908.
@article{osti_1458908,
title = {Enabling reliability assessments of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards [Enabling reliability of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards]},
author = {Snaith, Henry J. and Hacke, Peter},
abstractNote = {Here, photovoltaic modules are expected to operate in the field for more than 25 years, so reliability assessment is critical for the commercialization of new photovoltaic technologies. In early development stages, understanding and addressing the device degradation mechanisms are the priorities. However, any technology targeting large-scale deployment must eventually pass industry-standard qualification tests and undergo reliability testing to validate the module lifetime. In this Perspective, we review the methodologies used to assess the reliability of established photovoltaics technologies and to develop standardized qualification tests. We present the stress factors and stress levels for degradation mechanisms currently identified in pre-commercial perovskite devices, along with engineering concepts for mitigation of those degradation modes. Recommendations for complete and transparent reporting of stability tests are given, to facilitate future inter-laboratory comparisons and to further the understanding of field-relevant degradation mechanisms, which will benefit the development of accelerated stress tests.},
doi = {10.1038/s41560-018-0174-4},
journal = {Nature Energy},
number = 6,
volume = 3,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}

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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: Perovskite Solar Cell Structure. Efficient PSCs comprise an anode (e.g indium tin oxide), an optional “buffer layer”, an electron selective charge extraction layer (n-type layer), a polycrystalline perovskite absorber layer (typically intrinsic in charged state), a hole-selective charge extraction layer (p-type layer), an optional buffer layer, and amore » cathode. (a) Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy image (SEM) of an example of such a cell taken from ref. 38 and (b) annotated diagram cell. In some embodiments a thin mesoporous scaffold (typically TiO2 or Al2O3) infiltrated with absorber material is present between a charge extraction layer and the polycrystalline absorber layer. If we include the anode, cathode and buffer layers, there are seven different materials in a PSC, with 6 internal material interfaces.« less

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Figures/Tables have been extracted from DOE-funded journal article accepted manuscripts.