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ICMol researchers develop a fast, solvent-free technique to produce semiconducting materials

calendar_today Nov 10, 2026

Researchers from the Molecular Opto-Electronic Devices (MOED) group at the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol) of the Universitat de València have contributed to the development of a new technique for producing thin films of perovskite semiconductor materials. The study, whose first author is ICMol researcher Lennart van den Hengel, presents a gas-flow-assisted flash evaporation method that enables solvent-free deposition at rates exceeding one micrometer per minute. They used the perovskite semiconductors to prepare thin film photovoltaic devices. The research involves members of the MOED group, led by Professor Henk J. Bolink, and forms part of the PERTE Chip project, a strategic project by the government of Spain as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and funded by Next Generation EU funds. The findings have been published in ACS Energy Letters, a leading international journal in energy research.

Perovskites have attracted considerable interest in solar energy research because of their ability to absorb light and convert it into electricity. These materials are among the most promising candidates for the development of next-generation photovoltaic technologies. However, one of the main challenges to their wider application is developing manufacturing methods capable of producing high-quality perovskite films rapidly, with precise control and good reproducibility.

To address this challenge, the research team has developed a technique called Gas-FE (Gas Flow Assisted Flash Evaporation), which combines the rapid evaporation of perovskite components from a single source with a gas flow that assists their deposition onto a surface.

A new strategy to accelerate production

One of the difficulties associated with conventional evaporation methods is controlling the deposition of materials composed of different components, particularly when those components have different vapor pressures. This can make it challenging to obtain films with the desired composition and properties.

The Gas-FE technique addresses this challenge through a process that enables the deposition of complex perovskite compositions using a single evaporation source, without the need for solvents.

The researchers achieved deposition rates exceeding one micrometer per minute, an important result showing manufacturing speeds in the order required for industry application for these materials.

Furthermore, the use of a single evaporation source offers an alternative to certain conventional processes that require the simultaneous control of multiple material sources, heavily simplifying the deposition procedure.

From materials to solar cells

To investigate the potential application of this technique in photovoltaic devices, the research team fabricated an experimental solar cell using vacuum deposition processes.

The device achieved a power conversion efficiency of 9.6%, providing proof of concept that perovskite films produced using Gas-FE can be integrated into a functioning solar cell.

The findings provide a foundation for further research aimed at improving device performance and assessing the potential of the technique for larger-scale manufacturing processes.

ICMol research into emerging energy technologies

The study has Lennart van den Hengel, a researcher in ICMol's Molecular Opto-Electronic Devices (MOED) group, as its first author.

Other ICMol researchers contributing to the publication include Vladimir Held, Ana Puchades Ortiz and Cristina Roldán-Carmona, alongside Professor Henk J. Bolink, who leads the MOED group.

The publication also includes Nathan Rodkey, a former member of the MOED group, and Tom Baines from the collaborating company Oxford PV, reflecting the collaboration between researchers with different institutional backgrounds.

The MOED group specializes in the development of optoelectronic materials and devices, including vacuum deposition techniques for energy applications. Its research seeks to improve the processes used to manufacture functional materials and explore their integration into emerging technologies.

This latest study contributes to ongoing efforts to develop more efficient manufacturing methods for photovoltaic materials. This new technique presents a step forward in the investigation of manufacturing approaches for perovskite-based solar cells at a large scale.