Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Eco-friendly solvent system (GVL, DMSO, 2-MeTHF) replaces toxic DMF/NMP for perovskite ink, enabling safer and faster manufacturing. • Solvent-constrained edge-protection (SCEP) strategy improves film edge quality and reduces defect density, critical for large-area modules. • Achieved certified stabilized efficiency of 17.2% on 7200 cm² perovskite photovoltaic modules, passing IEC 61215 reliability standards. • Demonstrated commercial-scale module fabrication (120 cm × 60 cm) with enhanced adhesion and interface properties via 2-MeTHF selection.
Abstract
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are widely recognized as a transformative technology for next-generation photovoltaics, given their exceptional promise for achieving high power conversion efficiencies (PCE), utilizing low-cost raw materials, and enabling versatile fabrication routes. However, commercialization efforts continue to face considerable obstacles, such as the dependence on toxic solvents, inadequate uniformity in large-area film deposition, and limited operational durability. Conventional perovskite inks commonly rely on highly toxic, high-boiling-point aprotic polar solvents, including N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). These solvents present serious environmental and health hazards while also impeding processing speeds and perovskite film quality in scalable high-throughput manufacturing, such as roll-to-roll slot-die coating, owing to their slow evaporation kinetics. Furthermore, residual solvent and heterogeneous crystallization tend to introduce a high density of defects in perovskite films, which undermines the long-term stability and reliability of the resulting perovskite photovoltaic modules (PPM) and hinders compliance with the rigorous standards required for commercial deployment. Thus, the establishment of an eco-friendly and efficient solvent system is essential for enabling the widespread adoption of perovskite technology in the mainstream photovoltaic market. In this context, Wang et al. devised an eco-friendly ink formulation utilizing green solvents (γ-valerolactone (GVL), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF)), and integrated it with a solvent-constrained edge-protection (SCEP) strategy. This approach enhanced the edge quality of perovskite films and lowered defect density under ambient conditions, thereby enabling the scalable production of high-performance PPM (Science, 2025, 390, 1021-1028). These approaches enabled the production of 7200-square-centimeter PPM that achieved a certified stabilized efficiency of 17.2% by NREL. In addition, the scalable module passed all IEC 61215 reliability standards as certified by TÜV Rheinland. Wang et al. successfully fabricated a commercial-scale PPM measuring 120 cm × 60 cm. In the DMSO and GVL systems, the authors selected 2-MeTHF as the solvent, which exhibits high vapor pressure and relatively weak coordination capability toward Pb2+. This selection serves to diminish the interaction between perovskite and GVL, facilitate the evaporation of GVL, and enhance the adhesion between the perovskite film and the interface. "Edge effects" represent another critical challenge when scaling laboratory-scale technologies to commercial-grade large-area devices. Furthermore, the authors propose a solution-restricted edge protection strategy by introducing trimethyl-te
1. Introduction
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are widely recognized as a transformative technology for next-generation photovoltaics, given their exceptional promise for achieving high power conversion efficiencies (PCE), utilizing low-cost raw materials, and enabling versatile fabrication routes. However, commercialization efforts continue to face considerable obstacles, such as the dependence on toxic solvents, inadequate uniformity in large-area film deposition, and limited operational durability.
Conventional perovskite inks commonly rely on highly toxic, high-boiling-point aprotic polar solvents, including N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). These solvents present serious environmental and health hazards while also impeding processing speeds and perovskite film quality in scalable high-throughput manufacturing, such as roll-to-roll slot-die coating, owing to their slow evaporation kinetics. Furthermore, residual solvent and heterogeneous crystallization tend to introduce a high density of defects in perovskite films, which undermines the long-term stability and reliability of the resulting perovskite photovoltaic modules (PPM) and hinders compliance with the rigorous standards required for commercial deployment.
Thus, the establishment of an eco-friendly and efficient solvent system is essential for enabling the widespread adoption of perovskite technology in the mainstream photovoltaic market.
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Zhaoyang Chu, Xiaotian Hu, Yiwang Chen (2026). Improved solvent systems for the commercialization of perovskite photovoltaic modules. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-4926/26020044
Research & Educational Purpose Only:The translations, structured abstracts, analytical annotations, and data reports provided by SinoTechIntel are intended exclusively for academic research, internal corporate R&D, and educational benchmarking. They do not constitute formal engineering, chemical safety, legal, or professional advice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main challenges for commercializing perovskite solar cells?
The main challenges include dependence on toxic solvents like DMF and NMP, inadequate uniformity in large-area film deposition, and limited operational durability. These issues hinder scalable manufacturing and long-term stability.
What eco-friendly solvent system is proposed in this research?
The research proposes an eco-friendly ink formulation using γ-valerolactone (GVL), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF) as green solvents, replacing toxic DMF and NMP.
How does the solvent-constrained edge-protection (SCEP) strategy improve perovskite films?
The SCEP strategy enhances the edge quality of perovskite films and lowers defect density under ambient conditions, which is critical for scaling up to large-area modules and improving performance.
What performance metrics were achieved with the improved solvent system?
The improved solvent system enabled production of 7200 cm² perovskite photovoltaic modules with a certified stabilized efficiency of 17.2% by NREL, and the modules passed all IEC 61215 reliability standards certified by TÜV Rheinland.
Why is 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF) chosen as a solvent?
2-MeTHF has high vapor pressure and relatively weak coordination capability toward Pb2+, which diminishes interaction between perovskite and GVL, facilitates GVL evaporation, and enhances adhesion between the perovskite film and the interface.
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