Materials Acceleration Platform for Photovoltaics
Concept study for a self-driving perovskite cluster-tool
- Fully automated preparation & in-line analysis
- Accelerated experimentation & high-throughput workflows
- Consistent results through robotic integration
- Open, modular design with scalable substrate handling 1" to panel size
- AI-ready data management platform
From Lab to Fab
At LAB14, we bridge the gap between advanced manufacturing and cutting-edge research. The presented automated research cluster transfers the precision, reliability, processing speed and connectivity demanded by industrial users into the laboratory setting. By integrating excellence in process automation with specialized lab solutions, we ensure that researchers benefit from robust, user-friendly, and service-oriented technologies, enhancing their capabilities and driving innovation forward.
Behind the concept
The Future of Automated Laboratories
The automation level in materials research laboratories has steadily increased over the past decades, a trend that is certainly going to continue. The concept of fully autonomous Material Acceleration Platforms (MAP) and Device Acceleration Platforms (DAP) has redefined the vision of automated labs. Achieving automation to such a level requires not only advanced robotics, but also sophisticated software for process control, data analysis, and AI-driven decision-making. Today, leading universities are building highly automated labs tailored to their particular research focus by themselves, setting new standards in scientific discovery. However, professional automation know-how from decades of experience in semiconductor industries can be leveraged to make automated discovery available to a much broader range of research laboratories. With this concept study of a Materials Acceleration Platform for photovoltaics, we illustrate that highly automated laboratories are not a vision of the future, but already a commercially accessible reality.
Perovskite Solar Cells
Discovered in 2009, perovskite solar cells have already achieved efficiencies of 27%, rivaling the best established PV technologies. Perovskites feature exceptional light absorption in ultra-thin layers, remarkably high defect tolerance and a tunable bandgap, all achievable with very low production costs. Low manufacturing costs originate not only in the comparingly low amount of active material, but also from the possibility to apply low temperature processes and simple solution-based deposition methods like spin-coating, slot-dye coating or printing techniques. Despite the promising and rapid developments, challenges remain: limited stability under real-world operation, scalability issues and lead content concerns still prevent the use of this material class in commercial products. Their vast range of possible stoichiometries and occasionally surprising material properties make perovskites an ideal showcase for an automated high-throughput laboratory. Our platform enables rapid exploration of countless material combinations and device architectures, unlocking faster innovation in PV materials research. This systematic approach, combined with advanced analytics, deepens the understanding of perovskites and expedites the development of commercially viable solutions.
From Idea to Prototype
Model Process of Rapid Prototyping
This concept study aims to accelerate the development of efficient, cost-effective absorber materials and functional layer architectures with high performance. Two key capabilities are essential: rapid screening across a
broad parameter space of stoichiometries, layer stacks, and process control parameters on the one hand, and advanced analytics to assess the physical properties of functional layers for targeted parameter searches on
the other.
The cluster’s configuration is based on a model preparation process as found in many research laboratories, beginning with the introduction of 1” glass substrates, followed by chemical cleaning. Hole transport and absorber layers are deposited by spin-coating, with intermediate thermal annealing and anti-solvent application. This sequence serves only as an example, since the process flow can be freely adjusted and a wide variety of deposition processes, including spray-coating or inkjet printing can be implemented to address specific research needs. Various analytical methods are integrated for characterizing physical parameters: Layer thicknesses are monitored using white-light interferometry. Photoluminescence quantum yield spectroscopy for optical characterization, X-Ray diffraction for crystallinity, atomic force microscopy for roughness and local electrical properties, and X-ray, UV, and inverse photoelectron spectroscopy for chemical composition, electronic properties and band alignment. Before device testing, physical vapor deposition is employed to deposit transport layers and electrical contacts, enabling
parallel performance assessments on up to 16 substrates under simulated solar irradiation.
Concept in Detail
1’’ glass substrates can be moved individually through the entire system. For process parallelization in PVD and performance tests, 16 individual substrates are combined on a carrier using a pick & place robot. The System is based Notion System’s n.varixx series and operates entirely under protective gas atmosphere or Vacuum conditions.
For batch processing, multiple cassettes with 25 substrates of 1’’ and additional multi-substrate carriers for 16 substrates each can be loaded, with flexible assignment of input/output location.
An integrated n.chemixx module enables adaptable pre-cleaning of substrates prior to coating, featuring configurable chemical delivery and dispense systems, and substrate heating.
Open bowl or covered chuck spincoaters enable highest process control during layer deposition.
For annealing or curing of deposited layers, substrates can be heated up to 220°C with individually set heating times.
Layer thickness and uniformity across multiple deposition stages can be determined.
Quantification of the ratio of emitted to absorbed photons and determination of quasi-fermi level splitting.
(LuQY Pro by Quantum Yield Berlin)
Mapping of surface morphology with sub-nanometer resolution and quantification of local electrical properties such as conductivity, work function or charge carrier concentration.
(DriveAFM by Nanosurf)
Advanced surface analysis during perovskite solar cell fabrication, determining chemical composition, oxidation states, and complete electronic band structures at critical interfaces.
(EnviroMETROS Lab by SPECSGROUP)
Identification of crystal structures, phase compositions, and lattice parameters of the photoactive and charge transport layers.
(D6 PHASER by Bruker)
Versatile vacuum thin-film deposition system for high-quality metallic contacts with optimized work functions and conductivity profiles, functional buffer layers, transparent conductive oxides, or selective transport materials with tailored optoelectronic properties.
(PRO Line PVD 75 by Kurt J. Lesker Company)
IV characterization, MPP tracking or light soaking can be performed with simulated sun light on various cells in parallel.
(Sunbrick by G2V Optics with MPP Neo by Automatic Research)
