Chinese researchers have developed a new methylammonium-free (MA-free) perovskite solar module that achieved a 22.7 percent power conversion efficiency. In a stability test, the module retained nearly 98 percent of the original efficiency.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Dalian Jiaotong University created a process to manufacture uniform perovskite solar modules using slot-die coating under normal ambient conditions.

“We developed a reliable fabrication process for uniform, high-efficiency, methylammonium-free perovskite solar modules using slot-die coating under ambient conditions,” said the study author Zhihua Zhang.

Perovskite solar cells are widely used in photovoltaic applications because of high efficiency and low manufacturing costs.

However, many high-performance devices rely on methylammonium (MA), which degrades easily under heat. Degraded MA releases volatile compounds that damage the perovskite crystal structure, increasing defects and reducing the cell’s efficiency over time.

To overcome this limitation, the researchers designed an MA-free perovskite material and paired it with a new crystallization strategy that improves film formation during manufacturing.

The team said that slot-die coating is well suited for large-scale production. The technique uses materials efficiently and can be integrated into continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing lines.

Slot-die coating is different from the spin-coating process commonly used in laboratories. It spreads the perovskite solution across larger surfaces and makes it more suitable for commercial-scale production. However, producing uniform films over large areas remains a major challenge because the perovskite crystals must form evenly during processing.

Researchers addressed this hurdle by introducing a combined additive strategy using rubidium thiocyanate (RbSCN) and formamidinium thiocyanate (FASCN).

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