Integration of perovskite solar cells with curved, rigid, carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites

In this thesis, we take an established roll-to-roll compatible solution deposition method, namely spray coating, and apply it to the fabrication of solar cells onto curved, load bearing structures. The aim is not to demonstrate the commercial viability of perovskite technologies as a low cost alternative to established technologies, which is being amply demonstrated already by legions of researchers, but to demonstrate the potential niche applications of the technology to which it is uniquely suited.

In the first experimental chapter of this thesis, we sought to investigate whether our assumptions that spray coating of perovskite devices onto curved surfaces were valid. Specifically, we needed to ascertain whether we could conformally coat a curved surface, without associated problems pertaining to solution run off. We first used flat surfaces held at a series of angles, where we established that solution run off was not an issue. Buoyed by this, we then fabricated curved devices with reasonable performance onto glass substrates.

In the second experimental chapter, we explored the fabrication of perovskite devices onto carbon fibre-reinforced composite materials. This is an important structural material finding applications in the aerospace and automotive industries, and thus an attractive target material for mobile power generation functionalisation. We found that mitigation of coefficient of thermal expansion mismatches was essential to successfully fabricate devices on these materials, however the study was limited to spin coated flat surfaces.

The final experimental chapter was an exercise in bringing the previous two chapters together to create spray-coated, curved, carbon fibre-reinforced polymer based perovskite photovoltaic devices. In this chapter, we improved our substrate materials to significantly reduce complexity and weight while retaining performance, yielding devices with stabilised specific powers up to 26 W g-1, demonstrating the potential of such materials and manufacturing techniques for the realisation of self-charging electric vehicles and aircraft.