Textile Ceramic Technology (TCT) is an innovative industrialized dry-construction system that incorporates a stainless-steel wire mesh as a structural framework for embedding ceramic tiles. Recently, researchers from Spain's International University of Catalonia (UIC), Leitat and France's Grenoble Alpes University set out to integrate photovoltaic (PV) solar cells into the TCT framework, creating a system capable of efficiently constructing industrialized photovoltaic envelopes that can cover large surfaces in a timely manner.
The team opted for perovskite-based PVs due to several key advantages, including low cost, lightweight design, and customizable coloration. These properties not only enhance energy generation but also provide aesthetic possibilities. The versatility of the TCT system allows for a wide range of architectural designs based on a fundamental modular element—the brick—facilitating diverse configurations. This synergy between perovskite technology and the adaptable nature of TCT opens new opportunities for creating visually appealing and energy-efficient building envelopes.
This work presents the second prototype of the solar brick within the TCT framework, aimed at improving both the mechanical strength of the unit and the photovoltaic efficiency of the perovskite cells compared to the initial prototype. It outlines the design process of this second prototype, from conceptualization through fabrication, followed by an experimental testing campaign to evaluate its structural and energy performance. The objective was to produce a fully functional prototype and advance it to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4–5, in order to assess its technical feasibility and determine the potential for scaling up toward the production of an integrated PV mesh within the Textile Ceramic Technology (TCT) system. The study also aimed to evaluate the suitability of perovskite as an emerging photovoltaic technology with promising characteristics for Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).
A major challenge highlighted by the team is the absence of specific standards for perovskite-based BIPV modules. To address this, the validation approach combined existing standards for silicon modules and thin-film modules, along with construction-related requirements, thereby establishing an intermediate pathway for performance and safety verification.
Another significant challenge was in the interdisciplinary collaboration required between research in the solar technology sector and the construction industry, as well as in the design process itself, which spans scales from the dimensions of an entire building down to the micrometer thickness of the perovskite layer.
An earlier ceramic prototype, patented in 2022, revealed major limitations in impact resistance and Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE). Based on these findings, the current study introduced a completely new design that seeks to overcome these weaknesses. The new prototype involved a transition from ceramic to glass, following strategies commonly employed in conventional PV modules to enhance impact resistance and protect the perovskite solar module (PSM). Furthermore, the photovoltaic cell manufacturing process has been revised to increase power conversion efficiency (PCE). To enhance the effective area of the PV panel, minimodules were interconnected in series. Each minimodule was fabricated using a hybrid approach that combines spin-coating deposition of layers with a laser-based process to interconnect nine cells per substrate.
Two main challenges remain mentioned by the team were stability (as PSCs degrade under exposure to moisture, oxygen, temperature fluctuations, and light) and scalability (as efficiency typically decreases as cell size increases). This work addresses these challenges while investigating the integration of perovskite technology into industrialized construction systems such as TCT. The results contribute to advancing TCT as a scalable and aesthetically adaptable solution for sustainable architecture, combining rapid installation, structural integrity, and energy generation in modern building envelopes.
