Electrodeposition in Perovskite Solar Cells: A Critical Review, New Insights, and Promising Paths to Future Industrial Applications

Abstract

The active layer quality significantly impacts perovskite solar cell performances. In competition with the common spin, the electrodeposition (ED) method has emerged as a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally friendly alternative for perovskite deposition. This article combines an up-to-date critical review with experimental results for the development of perovskite photovoltaics. The first review section offers a critical understanding of the current state of the art for the processing of perovskite using an ED step. With the comparison of various methods described in the literature, the pros and cons of the technique are reviewed to assess its applicability at the industrial scale. The second part presents experimental findings from the authors, resulting from a 5-year experience in this area. Various important and specific topics are covered including the optimization of the ED parameters, the influence of the substrate, the material's selection, the architecture, and the impact on active surface properties. The comparison of the performance data from the literature and the new set of experimental data allows to pace the way for the future development and the integration of stable, affordable, and large-scale photovoltaics cells.