Rapid processing by intense pulsed light of a CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite thin film for photovoltaics

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells utilizing a two step deposited CH3NH3PbI3 thin film were rapidly sintered using an intense pulsed light (IPL) source. The IPL process is a rapid heat treatment that has been used to process a methylammonium lead iodide perovskite thin film creating large crystal sizes approaching 1 micron without sacrificing surface coverage. Solar cells with an average efficiency of 11.5% and a champion device of 12.3% are reported. The methylammonium lead iodide perovskite was subjected to 2000 Joules of energy in a 2 ms pulse of light generated by a xenon lamp, resulting in temperatures significantly exceeding the degradation temperature of 150 °C. The significance of the IPL process is the capability to process large areas (over 60 cm2) almost instantaneously.