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

[Display omitted] •PVDF-HFP addition is a key factor contributing to enhanced performance and stability of solar cells in space environments.•PVDF-HFP PSCs showed an improved PCE of 22.54% over pristine due to increased carrier lifetimes and reduced charge transport resistance.•PVDF-HFP addition enhances the crystallinity and stability of perovskite films in vacuum conditions.•PVDF −HFP PSCs demonstrated significantly better resilience compared to pristine PSCs under gamma-ray exposure. 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.