A systematic investigation of PVDF-HFP in perovskite solar cells for improved space mission reliability

Metal halide perovskites have sparked considerable interest in photovoltaic (PV) research due to their exceptional optoelectronic attributes. The remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE), superior power-to-weight ratios, adaptability to flexible substrates, and robust radiation tolerance position perovskite solar cells (PSCs) as a compelling option for futuristic space PV applications. In this study, we enhance the stability of PSCs by incorporating the additive poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) into the perovskite composition and evaluate their performance under vacuum and gamma-ray irradiation conditions. The fluorine content in PVDF-HFP establishes strong hydrogen bonding with the perovskite's organic cations and coordination bonds with Pb²⁺ ions, facilitating effective defect mitigation within the perovskite matrix. PVDF-HFP PSCs showed a marked increase in PCE of 22.54 %, comparing to 19.85 % for the pristine one. Furthermore, PVDF-HFP PSCs retained 70 % of their initial PCE after 600 h in a vacuum environment (2 × 10^-7 torr). Additionally, it exhibited strong resilience to gamma-ray exposure. These results indicate that the integration of PVDF-HFP as an additive in perovskite solar cells significantly enhances their stability and performance in the harsh space condition.