Enhancing the Performance and Photostability of Perovskite Solar Cells with a Multifunctional Light-Management Composite

Abstract

A multifunctional light management layer for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is presented, made from anisotropic pectin cryogel infiltrated with poly(methyl methacrylate), further enhanced by the incorporation of 2,2′,7,7′-tetrabromo-9,9′-spirobifluorene. The effectiveness of the composite layers is evaluated by attaching them to the front glass surface of the PSCs. As a result, the current density of the functionalized PSC increases by an average of 4.4 ± 0.3% relative to pristine PSCs. The improvement is credited to the presence of haze, downconversion, and a 50% reduction in reflectance between 400 and 800 nm compared to glass. The power conversion efficiency of composite-attached PSCs increases by 5 ± 0.2% relative to pristine PSCs. Moreover, the composite effectively mitigated UV-induced photodegradation and localized heating, extending the operational stability of PSCs, as proven by maximum power point tracking tests. The surface temperature decreases, and the T80 of the functionalized PSCs increases by up to 2.6-fold compared to pristine PSCs, primarily due to the composites’ significantly low thermal conductivity and UV blocking. These findings suggest that this eco-friendly and lightweight composite offers a viable solution for better-performing and more stable PSCs, advancing the potential for their widespread commercial adoption in various environments, including heavy UV exposure.