Comparison of encapsulation methods of perovskites solar cells via analysis of a large dataset

Abstract The lifetime of halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is thought to be limited by the combination of intrinsic instability of the PSC materials, and extrinsic degradation caused by external ageing stressors. PSC encapsulation has proven to be an effective method for improved environmental stability by preventing access to ambient species including oxygen and moisture. The choice of preferred PSC encapsulation method in terms of its effect on the PSC lifetime requires a thorough comparison of methods. Herein we aim to use meta-analysis of a large database for such comparison. We developed a methodology for meta-analysis of PSC stability with different encapsulation strategies using data available in the Perovskite Database Project. Our algorithm filtered the data, grouped the relevant experiments according to their encapsulation type, and compared their average lifetime indicator values. We conclude that encapsulation schemes with Al2O3 thin films and glass-on-glass with butyl rubber-based sealant yielded improved stability compared to other studied encapsulations. The frequently used glass-on-glass encapsulation with epoxy sealing yielded comparable PSC stability to glass-on-glass encapsulation with other sealants. Inorganic-based encapsulation schemes mostly showed improved PSC stability compared to organic cover materials. As more data is added to the Perovskite Database, our code can be used for updated analysis.