A team at UC Santa Barbara has devised a method to fabricate high-quality perovskite films at ambient temperature, streamlining production and elevating efficiency from below 20% to 24.4%.

Perovskite, characterized by its distinct crystal structure akin to the mineral it's named after, exhibits numerous benefits over silicon-based counterparts. Notably lightweight and flexible, it can be applied via spraying or printing. Moreover, perovskite solar cell manufacture holds potential for a reduced carbon footprint compared to silicon photovoltaics, which demand high temperatures and controlled environments.

Yet, the conventional process involving high-temperature annealing and intricate post-treatment steps hampers scalability and environmental friendliness. Through meticulous adjustments to the material's chemical composition, the researchers formulated a perovskite ink that facilitates efficient film formation sans the need for thermal annealing and post-treatment.

This innovative procedure also demonstrates exceptional versatility. For instance, the team successfully applied a perovskite layer onto fresh leaves, an endeavor unattainable with the prior high-temperature method."

Such adaptability expands the scope of potential applications, particularly in flexible indoor and outdoor energy generation. 

Based on: https://www.sciencedaily.com/