Fundamental Studies and Engineering of Supersaturation Gradients for Solution-Phase Crystallization of Perovskite Photovoltaics

Within the last decade, organometallic halide perovskites have become one of the most promising candidates for thin-film photovoltaic solar cells due to their high efficiencies and ease of manufacturing.

My research examines the relationship between coating process conditions and film morphology, which requires developing a fundamental understanding of the crystallization and drying kinetics of salt solutions.

Through experiments and transport modeling, I aim to predict how supersaturation gradients in a thin film of perovskite ink during coating and drying affects the morphology of the final dried film. Specifically, I aim to measure and understand the fundamental nucleation and crystal growth dynamics under confinement, and to develop/validate physics-based models to predict film growth and emergence of important microstructural features like pinholes and domain topology. Subsequently, these findings will be used to develop novel and robust process strategies for producing high-coverage films at scale.