Researchers from France's National Solar Energy Institute (INES), under the French renewable energy technology research institute CEA, have claimed a maximum power conversion efficiency of 18.95% for encapsulated flexible perovskite solar modules, calling it a world record for flexible perovskite modules over 10 cm2.
According to their claim, stabilized efficiency was more than 18.5% for the module that had a surface area of 11.6 cm2, and achieved after flexible encapsulation. The team developed these modules on low-cost substrates (PET) and a simple structure of 5 layers including electrodes.
Explaining how they achieved these results, the team said they optimized the stack of layers of the cell, deploying a 3-step laser process to produce the module. The flexible encapsulation process developed is 'fully compatible, without initial loss, with highly gas-barrier materials'.
"The stability of these devices has been tested under damp heat conditions (85°C, 85%RH), according to the standards used in silicon technologies," share the researchers. "A stability of several hundreds of hours was obtained (400 to 800h according to encapsulation) considering a standard objective of 1000h."
Going ahead, these modules will be interconnected to obtain high voltages and tested according to building standards by Flexbrick company which is a part of the European Union's (EU) Horizon research funded APOLO project consortium.
Another APOLO member, Germany's Fraunhofer ISE is currently testing these modules for indoor applications. "These tests already showed power conversion efficiencies of up to 24.5% at very low illumination (500 lux). Certification is being considered," said CEA-INES.
In May 2021, the team declared 19.18% efficiency for flexible single-junction perovskite solar cells as part to the Apolo project on an active surface area of 33 mm2 (see 19.18% Power Conversion Efficiency For Flexible Perovskite).