Abstract

Perovskite solar cells combine high efficiency with the potential for low-cost fabrication. Reducing their weight could make them easier to transport and deploy while lowering demands on supporting structures. Conventional devices, however, are typically built on heavy, fragile glass. Lightweight, conductive substrates offer a promising alternative, but their integration introduces new interfaces that can limit charge collection, device performance, and stability. This thesis investigates how processing and interfacial chemistry influence these properties.

The first research thrust examines perovskite solar cells fabricated on alternative substrates. Electrical measurements reveal limitations in charge collection associated with the substrate-device interface. Surface characterization provides insight into the chemical and electronic properties responsible for these limitations. Introducing an interfacial modification improves charge collection, demonstrating the importance of controlling surface properties when integrating lightweight substrates.