Building-integrated photovoltaics is envisioned to play a key role in the future power generation of zero-carbon emission buildings. Amongst all photovoltaic technologies, solar cells based on novel lead-halide perovskite semiconductors are promising candidates for such applications because of their versatile and low-cost deposition, excellent optoelectronic properties, light weight, and added aesthetic value. To date, the power conversion efficiency has risen above 25% by using substrate-configuration single-junction perovskite solar cells that are built on and illuminated through a transparent glass substrate. When considering fabricating perovskite solar cells directly on opaque substrates of building materials, coated steel substrates are a noticeable choice. For building-integrated solar cells in which the cell is directly fabricated on such opaque substrates and illuminated through a transparent top electrode, a substrate configuration can be employed. This thesis describes the development and optimization of state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells that can be directly fabricated on smooth and rough coated steel substrates for future building-integrated photovoltaics. It provides solutions to reduce their parasitic optical losses and presents the impact of surface roughness of polymer coated steel substrate on the photovoltaic properties of perovskite solar cells.

Embargo until August 2022