Slot-Die Coater Enables High-Efficiency Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells

Powering the Future of Flexible Solar Cells

In a recent peer-reviewed study published in Solar RRL, researchers at the University of Victoria and Solaires Enterprises demonstrated how the Research Laboratory Coater (since evolved into the Slot-die Coater) enabled new breakthroughs in the scalable fabrication of flexible perovskite solar cells. By using the system for precise slot-die coating under ambient conditions, the team achieved smooth, defect-free perovskite films that were central to record device efficiencies.

Their work resulted in flexible solar cells reaching 17.6 percent efficiency on small-area devices and 12.7 percent on larger modules, among the highest reported for fully scalable perovskite devices produced outside controlled environments. This achievement underlines how the Research Laboratory Coater is driving innovation by turning laboratory research into scalable, real-world energy solutions.

Challenge: Achieving Uniform Thin Films on Flexible Substrates

While perovskite solar cells on rigid glass substrates have surpassed 26 percent efficiency, translating these results to flexible plastic substrates such as PET coated with ITO remains difficult. Uneven polymer surfaces create incomplete coverage of thin-film layers which in turn results in shorting pathways, pinholes, and a reduction in device performance. In addition, most traditional laboratory methods such as spin coating are not compatible with industrial production. Researchers therefore needed a scalable and precise coating solution that could deliver reproducible thin films suitable for flexible devices.

Solution: Scalable Deposition with the Research Laboratory Coater

To address these challenges, the team employed the Research Laboratory Coater from infinityPV for the deposition of the perovskite layer. The slot-die coating capability of the system enabled uniform deposition of perovskite films directly in ambient air, avoiding the need for controlled atmospheres. The integrated syringe pump provided precise ink delivery, which ensured stable flow and reproducibility. A temperature-controlled coating bed maintained at 65 °C allowed consistent crystallization, while the adjustable coating speed and gap settings reproduced conditions that are relevant for roll-to-roll industrial processes. In combination with blade coating for the electron and hole transport layers, the Research Laboratory Coater enabled a fully scalable fabrication approach on flexible substrates.

Results: Record Efficiency and Enhanced Reliability

The adoption of the Research Laboratory Coater resulted in the successful fabrication of flexible perovskite solar cells with a champion efficiency of 17.6 percent on small area devices and 12.7 percent on larger one square centimeter devices. These efficiencies are among the highest ever reported for fully scalable flexible perovskite solar cells fabricated under ambient air conditions.

The perovskite films were smooth, highly reflective, and free from pinholes. Improved grain growth and reduced defect density enhanced charge transport, which translated into higher open circuit voltage and fill factor. The devices also exhibited remarkable mechanical reliability, retaining performance after 500 bending cycles at radii as small as 10 millimeters. Consistency was confirmed by the fabrication of forty devices with reproducible performance, underscoring the reliability of the scalable approach.

Enabling Scalable, High-Performance Thin Films with the Research Laboratory Coater

This study demonstrates how the Research Laboratory Coater (since evolved into the Slot-die Coater) from infinityPV empowers researchers to move beyond small-scale, proof-of-concept methods and into scalable, industrially relevant thin-film fabrication. By enabling precise, reproducible, and flexible deposition of perovskite inks under real laboratory conditions, the Research Laboratory Coater was essential in achieving record performance for flexible perovskite solar cells.

For scientists and innovators working with advanced thin-film applications, whether in solar energy, printed batteries, OLEDs, or sensors, the Research Laboratory Coater provides a proven pathway from laboratory research to scalable production.

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