Can Fully Vacuum-Processed Perovskite Solar Cells Follow the Footprint of OLEDs?

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have rapidly advanced as a promising photovoltaic technology, achieving certified efficiencies exceeding 27% for single-junction and 34% for tandem configurations. However, commercialization is hindered by solution-based fabrication challenges, including solvent toxicity, interlayer damage, and poor large-area uniformity. This review examines vacuum-based dry processing as a scalable alternative, drawing parallels with the successful commercialization of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) via vacuum methods. We systematically analyzes dry fabrication of perovskite absorbers, classified by organic-, inorganic-, and hybrid- cations; charge transport layers, categorized by hole and electron transport layers with organic, inorganic, and hybrid variants; and fully dry-processed PSCs. Key frameworks include precursor evaporability criteria, in situ stoichiometry control, and sublayer-templated crystallization for uniform films and stable stacks. Extensive survey tables highlight photovoltaics in terms of their dry-process methodologies used and resulting performances. This work concludes that by leveraging the multilayer precision and patterning expertise of OLEDs, dry-processed PSCs offer enhanced reproducibility, environmental safety, and industrial viability, positioning them to overcome current bottlenecks toward widespread deployment.