Performance investigation of solution-processed semi-transparent perovskite solar cells in building sectors

Semi-transparent perovskite solar cell (PSC) windows have received much attention from scholars due to their remarkable power generation capacity and thermal insulation performance. However, considering the complexity of their fabrication process, and the significant decrease in power generation efficiency when scaling up to large-sized solar modules. To solve the above problems, this study developed a scalable production technological process to prepare translucent PSC modules, in which large-area chalcogenide thin films were prepared by a scratch-coating method. The prepared PSC module has an average visible light transmittance of 20.1 % and shows a maximum power conversion efficiency of 3.92 %. Experimental tests were conducted to investigate its photo-thermal regulation performance concerning the existing common window. The results show that the newly developed photovoltaic window reduces the indoor air temperature by 1.4 °C while the illuminance is reduced by about 59.2 % compared to the common window. A further simulation is performed by Energyplus, with a conclusion that PSC windows can decrease glare probability by 24.7 %–45.7 %, diminish building energy usage by 26.6 %–59.6 %, and achieve up to 469.9 kWh power generation in Harbin, China. The investigation of this paper paves the technical and foundational way for the large-scale application of PSC in building sectors.