A systematic investigation of PVDF-HFP in perovskite solar cells for improved space mission reliability
Metal halide perovskites have sparked considerable interest in
photovoltaic (PV) research due to their exceptional optoelectronic
attributes. The remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE), superior
power-to-weight ratios, adaptability to flexible substrates, and robust
radiation tolerance position perovskite solar cells (PSCs) as a
compelling option for futuristic space PV applications. In this study,
we enhance the stability of PSCs by incorporating the additive poly
(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) into the
perovskite composition and evaluate their performance under vacuum and
gamma-ray irradiation conditions. The fluorine content in PVDF-HFP
establishes strong hydrogen bonding with the perovskite’s organic
cations and coordination bonds with Pb2+ ions, facilitating
effective defect mitigation within the perovskite matrix. PVDF-HFP PSCs
showed a marked increase in PCE of 22.54 %, comparing to 19.85 % for the
pristine one. Furthermore, PVDF-HFP PSCs retained 70 % of their initial
PCE after 600 h in a vacuum environment (2 × 10-7 torr).
Additionally, it exhibited strong resilience to gamma-ray exposure.
These results indicate that the integration of PVDF-HFP as an additive
in perovskite solar cells significantly enhances their stability and
performance in the harsh space condition.
