1. Product Background: Overcoming the Scalability Challenge in Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a leading next-generation photovoltaic technology, offering exceptional optoelectronic properties, continuously rising power conversion efficiencies (PCE), and excellent recyclability. Among the key enabling technologies, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have proven highly promising for constructing hole-selective contact layers (HSLs). Due to their molecular-scale ultrathin structure, SAM-based HSLs exhibit outstanding carrier selectivity and significantly reduce the device's series resistance, thereby enhancing overall performance and stability.

However, the spin-coating technique widely used in laboratories faces serious limitations for industrial-scale production and flexible device fabrication, including high demands on substrate size and flatness, low material utilization, and poor suitability for large-area devices. While dip-coating is theoretically more amenable to scale-up, it has two major drawbacks in practice: long processing times and generally lower device efficiencies compared to spin-coated counterparts.

To address these challenges, Professor Xu Zongxiang's team at the Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) designed a novel SAM material based on a carbazole-conjugated linker-phosphonic acid molecular backbone. Through rational design and precise modification of the carbazole terminal group, they successfully synthesized a new series of SAM materials, with the representative molecule (4-(10-methoxy-7H-benzo[c]carbazol-7-yl)phenyl)phosphonic acid (MOLEC-SAM-006). This material features a unique asymmetric structure, incorporating a methoxy substituent and a rigid benzo-carbazole skeleton, synergistically enhancing the molecular dipole moment, packing density, and solubility in ethanol.

2. Product Advantages: Fast Processing, High Efficiency, and Green Sustainability

A. 5-Minute Rapid Film Formation with Over 27% Efficiency
MOLEC-SAM-006 forms a high-quality SAM functional layer via dip-coating in just 5 minutes. Small-area (0.071 cm²) PSCs achieved a certified efficiency of 27.23%, with a certified steady-state efficiency of 26.69% under MPPT conditions — balancing both high efficiency and short processing time.

B. Superior Performance for Large-Area and Mini-Module Devices
Using the dip-coating method, a 1 cm² device achieved 25.75% certified efficiency, with a steady-state MPPT certified efficiency of 24.85%. A mini-module with an active area of 12 cm² achieved 23.25% PCE, significantly outperforming the traditional spin-coated control (21.98%), with enhanced stability as well.

C. Breakthrough in Flexible Photovoltaics — Maximum Efficiency of 24.98%
On flexible PEN/ITO substrates, MOLEC-SAM-006 SAMs prepared by dip-coating boosted small-area device efficiency from 23.93% to 24.98%; 1 cm² flexible devices increased from 21.59% to 23.98%; and large-area (75 cm²) flexible devices reached 16.60% efficiency, far exceeding the spin-coated counterpart (11.11%), laying a foundation for scalable flexible photovoltaics.

D. Recyclable Process and Reusable Devices — Green and Sustainable
MOLEC-SAM-006 solution can be reused up to 20 times while maintaining high efficiency. Submerging the devices in water with ultrasonic treatment enables efficient separation of the perovskite absorbing layer, C60, SnOx, and the MOLEC-SAM-006/FTO substrate. After two cycles of recycling, the regenerated devices still achieve over 26% PCE, combining process sustainability with device recyclability.

3. Application Positioning: From Rigid to Flexible, from Lab to Production

A. Rigid PSCs (Small-Area, Large-Area, and Mini-Modules)

• 0.071 cm² lab cells: 27.23%

• 1 cm² medium-area cells: 25.75%

• 12 cm² active-area mini-modules: 23.25%
  Comprehensively outperforming spin-coating controls.

B. Flexible PSCs (Wearable Electronics & Portable Photovoltaics)
On flexible PEN/ITO substrates:

• 0.071 cm²: 24.98%

• 1 cm²: 23.98%

• 75 cm² large-area: 16.60%
  Substantially exceeding spin-coated references, enabling scalable flexible photovoltaics.

C. Large-Scale / Roll-to-Roll Industrial Production
The dip-coating process has low requirements for substrate flatness, high material utilization, and inherent compatibility with large-area and roll-to-roll manufacturing. The 5-minute film formation combined with 20 cycles of solution reuse significantly reduces cost-per-watt, paving the way for commercialization.

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