Perovskite Solar Cells: Analytical Model for Degradation Losses

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Overview

Researchers have developed an analytical model that distinguishes between bulk and interfacial degradation in perovskite solar cells, identifying bulk recombination as the primary cause of current density loss. The model demonstrated high accuracy with mean relative errors of 6.4% and 0.8% across two different device architectures. This framework allows developers to prioritize specific material and interface engineering to extend operational lifetimes.

In Depth

Key Findings

The primary driver of current density loss as perovskite solar cells age is bulk recombination. While interfacial recombination also contributes to performance decline, the study found it plays a secondary role compared to losses occurring within the perovskite absorber layer. Additionally, the analysis revealed that degradation is asymmetric, affecting electron and hole related recombination mechanisms differently depending on the device architecture.

Technical Details

The analytical model utilizes steady state carrier continuity equations combined with kinetic degradation laws to track changes in interfacial recombination velocities and bulk carrier lifetimes over time. To validate the model, researchers compared simulated current density against experimental data from two specific architectures:

• FTO, d Ti, m Ti, Spiro OMETAD and Au: The model achieved a mean relative error of 6.4%.
• Mixed halide perovskite FTO, d Ti, m Ti, PTAA and Au: The model achieved a mean relative error of 0.8%.

Background and Context

Perovskite solar cells are considered a promising path toward low-cost solar manufacturing, having achieved power conversion efficiencies exceeding 26% in laboratory settings. However, these cells suffer from instability when exposed to heat and illumination. This performance decline remains a significant technical barrier to large-scale commercial deployment.

Significance and Outlook

By providing a practical framework to separately quantify bulk and interfacial degradation, this model enables researchers and manufacturers to target stability improvements more precisely. Developers can now determine whether performance losses originate in the absorber material or at the layer interfaces, allowing for the prioritization of encapsulation strategies, interface engineering, and material formulation to increase the durability of commercial photovoltaic applications.

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