Perovskite Solar Module: Promise and Challenges in Efficiency, Meta-Stability, and Operational Lifetime

Perovskite photovoltaics (PVs) are an emerging solar energy generation technology that is nearing commercialization. Despite the unprecedented progress in increasing power conversion efficiency (PCE) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), up-scaling lab-made cells to solar modules remains a challenge. In this work, the recent progress of making perovskite mini-modules is reviewed. In particular, a database summarizing the module size, performance, hysteresis, and operational lifetimes reported in the literature is built. After analyzing the performance losses from scaling PSCs to mini-modules based on the data collected from the literature, the current key to high-performance perovskite mini-modules is found to be the coating method optimization. If the perovskite layer quality is well reserved, a >24% mini-module efficiency is projected by only considering the losses from lateral resistivity and laser scribing area. Next, performance characteristics are explored including hysteresis and meta-stable power outputs that must be overcome to correctly characterize perovskite modules. Finally, current challenges associated with the long-term stability of perovskite modules are examined and the importance of such durability for commercialization is discussed. It is hoped that the findings in this review provide a bridge for the development of perovskite modules that will lead to commercialization in the near future.