Improving reliability of Perovskite photovoltaic modules under real-life operation

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as promising technology due to their high power conversion efficiencies and low fabrication costs. In recent years, at imec, processes have been successfully developed to scale the technology from cell to modules. However, their long-term reliability remains a critical barrier to commercialization. Transitioning from lab-scale cells to large-area modules introduces new failure modes, including mechanical stress, non-uniform degradation, and encapsulation defects. Addressing these scale-dependent reliability issues requires a deep understanding of degradation mechanisms, robust testing methodologies, and effective translation of accelerated testing results to real-world performance.

Coupling physical testing with simulation tools enables extrapolation of accelerated test results to long-term outdoor behavior, supporting lifetime prediction and design optimization. Appropriate accelerated stress tests can quantify the lifetime acceleration factor (AF) that relates the lifetime under a defined standard operating condition to the lifetime under elevated stress conditions. Developing predictive models that relate accelerated stress tests (e.g., damp heat, thermal cycling, UV exposure) to outdoor performance is crucial here. These models must account for synergistic effects and real-world variability.