Amid the global energy transition, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a star technology in the new generation of photovoltaics, owing to their advantages such as high photoelectric conversion efficiency (theoretical efficiency exceeding 30%), low-cost fabrication processes, and tunable bandgap. However, perovskite materials are extremely sensitive to environmental factors like humidity, oxygen, and dust, necessitating preparation within highly clean, inert gas-protected environments. The perovskite glove box, as a critical piece of equipment in this field, integrates vacuum deposition, clean environmental control, and fully enclosed processing, providing a stable and controllable experimental platform for the research, development, and industrialization of perovskite solar cells.
I. Technological Breakthroughs and Challenges of Perovskite Solar Cells
Since achieving a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 3.8% for the first time in 2009, the efficiency of perovskite solar cells has surpassed 25% within just over a decade, approaching the theoretical limit of silicon-based solar cells. Their advantages lie in:
Low material cost: Abundant raw materials and simple preparation processes (e.g., solution coating);
Flexibility potential: Suitable for flexible substrates, expanding application scenarios;
Tunable bandgap: Optimization through compositional engineering enables full-spectrum absorption.
However, the stability issues of perovskite materials (such as degradation induced by humidity, oxygen, and light) remain the primary obstacle to their commercialization. During preparation, moisture, oxygen, and dust in the ambient atmosphere can cause defects in the perovskite film, degrading device performance. Consequently, the glove box has become essential equipment for perovskite solar cell fabrication.
II. Structure and Function Analysis of the Perovskite Glove Box
The perovskite glove box consists of two major modules: a high-vacuum deposition system and a fully enclosed inert gas glove box. Seamless integration achieves a closed-loop process encompassing "preparation-encapsulation-testing":
1. Integrated Vacuum Deposition: The glove box is integrated with vacuum deposition systems. Thin films can be deposited within high-vacuum evaporation chambers, followed by sample storage, preparation, and inspection inside the glove box. This design achieves full enclosure for processes like evaporation, encapsulation, and testing, eliminating the influence of the atmospheric environment on perovskite materials.
2. Ultra-Clean Filtration System: Equipped with an integrated FFU (Fan Filter Unit) ultra-clean filtration system. Gas within the glove box passes through dust removal fans and high-efficiency filter elements (U15 ultra-high efficiency or H14 high-efficiency filters), generating a top-down laminar flow. Air from the bottom of the chamber is recirculated back to the filtration system via ducts, ensuring cleanliness standards reach Class 10 or Class 100 levels.
3. Inert Atmosphere & Temperature Control: The glove box interior is filled with inert gases like nitrogen or argon to prevent contact between perovskite materials and oxygen or moisture. For temperature-sensitive preparation solutions, an air conditioner can be added to precisely control the internal temperature between 15-20°C, ensuring stable experimental conditions.
III. Application of the Perovskite Glove Box in PSC Preparation
Perovskite glove boxes are widely used in the preparation of perovskite solar cells, OLEDs (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes), PLEDs (Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes), and semiconductor devices. Taking perovskite solar cells as an example, the preparation process includes:
1. Substrate and Material Preparation
Substrate Cleaning: The perovskite glove box provides a highly clean and stable environment for cleaning transparent conductive glass substrates (e.g., FTO or ITO). Within the glove box, external contaminants such as dust and moisture are effectively avoided, ensuring the cleaning process remains uncontaminated. Impurities on the substrate surface can impair the adhesion between the perovskite film and the substrate, subsequently reducing cell performance.
Material Storage: Perovskite precursor solutions are highly sensitive to the environment and readily react with atmospheric moisture and oxygen, leading to performance degradation. The high-purity inert gas atmosphere inside the perovskite glove box provides an ideal storage location. Storing solutions within the glove box completely isolates them from the ambient atmosphere, ensuring material stability. This guarantees that the perovskite precursor solution maintains good activity during film preparation, enabling the fabrication of high-quality perovskite solar cells.
2. Thin Film Preparation
Solution Coating: Performing perovskite solution coating operations within the glove box ensures the process is unaffected by external environmental factors. Whether using blade coating, doctor blading, or spin coating methods, the stable gas environment and high cleanliness inside the glove box guarantee that the perovskite solution is uniformly coated onto the substrate without incorporating impurities. The uniformity of the coating directly impacts the quality and performance of the perovskite film and, consequently, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar cell.
Thermal Treatment: The coated substrate is placed on a hot plate or in a high-temperature furnace for annealing to form a dense perovskite film.
3. Electrode Preparation and Assembly
Transparent Conductive Electrodes: The perovskite glove box provides a stable operating environment during the application and heat curing of transparent conductive oxides (e.g., ITO) onto conductive glass or films to form electrodes. The cleanliness inside the glove box ensures the ITO coating remains uncontaminated by impurities, guaranteeing electrode conductivity and stability. Simultaneously, the inert gas atmosphere prevents oxidation of the electrode material during heat curing. This ensures the electrode forms a good conductive pathway after assembly with the perovskite layer, effectively transmitting current and enhancing the overall cell performance.
Photoelectric Conversion Layer: The stable temperature, humidity, and specific atmosphere within the glove box ensure the uniformity and stability of the photoelectric conversion layer material during coating, preventing reactions with substances like water and oxygen that could affect the PSC's photoelectric conversion efficiency.
Device Assembly: During the assembly of perovskite solar cells, the sealed, clean, inert gas environment created by the perovskite glove box prevents the ingress of contaminants like dust, moisture, and oxygen, ensuring good contact between the various perovskite solar cell components.
Conclusion
The perovskite glove box is a critical enabler for the transition of perovskite solar cells from the laboratory to industrialization. By providing a stable and controllable experimental environment, it ensures the preparation of high-performance perovskite solar cell devices, driving innovation in photovoltaic technology. Today, the perovskite glove box has become a standard configuration in the commercialization process of perovskite solar cells.
