Perovskite thin film solar cells from multi-stage dry reactions

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Roland Scheer
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 504961773

The goal of this project is the development and kinetic quantification of multi-stage all-vacuum growth processes of multi-component ABX3 perovskite thin films for solar cells. With multicomponent perovskite films we mean multi-cations and multi-anions in an alloy film. In contrast to simultaneous co-evaporation, multi-stage processes are preferable for industrial fabrication. The processes shall be all-dry. Different film growth stages can be(a) Precursor vapor reaction where a solid state precursor film reacts with vapor forming the perovskite film. (b) Diffusion couple reaction where two or more solid state precursor films react by chemical diffusion.(c) Exchange reaction where one component (anion or cation) is fully or partly exchanged by another component during annealing processes.State-of-the-art Pb-based perovskites but also prospective Sn-based compounds shall be studied. Using reaction processes performed under controlled temperature and fluxes, reaction constants, diffusion constants, and activation energies will be quantified. The main experimental method employed in this project is in-situ X-ray diffraction in real-time which gives information on the phase formation processes during thin film growth.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Spain
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Paul Pistor