The growing demand for sustainable energy solutions underscores photovoltaics (PV) as a pivotal technology, with perovskite solar cells (PSCs) emerging as a highly promising candidate due to their exceptional material properties. In less than a decade, PSCs have demonstrated a remarkable efficiency increase from 3.8% to 26.6%, nearing the performance of top-tier crystalline silicon devices (26.8%). However, as PSCs approach their thermodynamic efficiency limit, addressing optical losses becomes crucial. Theoretical models indicate that PSCs experience approximately 4% reflected light, 15% transmitted light, and 16% parasitic absorption. To mitigate these inefficiencies, nanopatterning of metal halide perovskite (MHP) thin films and functional layers has gained attention as an advanced light management strategy. By integrating nano-scale patterns into the PSC structure, light absorption can be optimized, and optical losses minimized. Nevertheless, conventional nanopatterning methods often involve complex, multi-step fabrication processes that are both costly and potentially damaging to the perovskite layers, posing challenges to scalability. Thus, the development of innovative, scalable nanopatterning techniques is imperative to unlocking PSCs’ full theoretical efficiency potential. [1, 2]

This is the main objective of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie project SPARKLES (ref. 101149132), where we aim to develop a novel approach to enhancing perovskite solar cell (PSC) performance through nanopatterning of metal halide perovskite (MHP) thin films using advanced femtosecond laser techniques. To achieve this, we propose two distinct strategies based on top-down and bottom-up approaches, enabling precise nanopatterning at the perovskite film interface. Initially, we successfully demonstrate the formation of Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) [3] on perovskite films with periodicities of 190 nm and 300 nm. Comprehensive material characterization is conducted to evaluate the impact of this technique on the optical and electronic properties of the films. Furthermore, we examine the influence of LIPSS-patterned substrates on perovskite layer deposition, optimizing the synthesis process to adapt to the modified surface topography.

 

[1] Y. Zhan et al. Energy Environ. Sci. 16, 4135-4163 (2023)
[2] JW Lee et al. Nanomicro Lett., 15, 184 (2023)
[3] J. Bonse et al. IEEE J.Sel.Top. Quantum Electron, 23, 9000615 (2017)