Stanford Engineering
Dauskardt Group
Postdoc

Austin Cristobal Flick

Research Interests

Robust, Manufacturable, Large Area Perovskite Solar Modules

Commercialization of solar energy technologies requires optimization across four key pillars: performance, scalability, stability, and cost. These pillars are inherently linked, and research into the commercial viability of perovskite solar modules requires extensive optimization within each pillar.  Our holistic approach includes the development of a uniquely scalable and low-cost deposition and curing method alongside a thorough evaluation of stability and testing standards towards accurately assessing the commercial viability of perovskite solar modules.

Scalable, Rapid Spray-Plasma Processed (RSPP) Perovskite Solar Modules

In order to realize high performing large-area perovskite modules, scalable fabrication methods must be employed to be compatible with our large-area laser-scribed design. An innovative plasma curing method, RSPP, allows for high throughput, efficient, and mechanically robust perovskite films with deposition rates of > 20 cm/s in open air, the highest throughput for any perovskite deposition method. We leverage the multi-modal curing capabilities of RSPP—top-down and bottom-up heating, UV photonic curing, and exposure to reactive gas species—to produce uniquely mechanically robust perovskite thin films, demonstrating a 5x greater resistance to fracture compared to conventional processing. This inherently scalable process enables module fabrication on larger substrates while delivering on the promise of low-cost next-generation solar energy.

Fig. 1: Large-area perovskite module fabrication with open-air plasma. a) Open-air spray-plasma curing system. b) Large-area perovskite deposition. c) Encapsulated open-air manufactured perovskite modules for external validation.

Technoeconomic Analysis of Perovskite Module Fabrication

The commercial viability of high-throughput open-air spray-plasma manufacturing of perovskite solar modules has been evaluated using a bottom-up Cost of Ownership manufacturing cost model alongside Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) analysis. Open-air spray-plasma manufacturing uniquely exploits the low-cost potential of perovskite solar energy, enabling pathways towards record low LCOEs without requiring the extensive lifetimes of comparable solar technologies.

Fig. 2: Levelized Cost of Energy of open-air manufactured perovskite solar modules, achieving the 2030 target of $0.03/kWh with only 10-year module lifetimes.

Publications

  • T. W. Colburn, A. C. Flick, J. Just, R. D. Miller, R. H. Dauskardt, "Open-Air Combustion Synthesis with Rapid Plasma Processing of Large-Area Transparent Conducting Oxides", Small 2025, 2503252. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202503252
  • Justin P. Chen, Thomas W. Colburn, Juliet Risner-Jamtgaard, Arturas Vailionis, Andrew Barnum, Margarita Golding, Abigail Carbone, Austin C. Flick, Reinhold H. Dauskardt, "Open-air spray deposition of PCBM/BCP electron transport layer for inverted perovskite solar cells", Matter, Volume 8, Issue 3, 2025, 101990, ISSN 2590-2385, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.101990
  • A.C. Flick, N. Rolston, & R.H. Dauskardt, "Indirect Liftoff Mechanism for High-Throughput, Single-Source Laser Scribing for Perovskite Solar Modules", Adv. Energy Materials, 2024. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aenm.202303175
  • R. Keesey, A. Tiihonen, A.E. Siemenn, T.W. Colburn, S. Sun, N.T.P Hartono, J. Serdy, M. Zeile, K. He, C.A. Gurtner, A.C. Flick, C. Batali, A. Encinas, R.R. Naik, Z. Liu, F. Oviedo, I.M. Peters, J. Thapa, S.I.P. Tian, R.H. Dauskardt, A.J. Norquist & T. Buonassisi, “An Open-Source Environmental Chamber for Materials-Stability Testing Using an Optical Proxy”, ChemRxiv, 2022, DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2022-wp18w
  • L. Zhe, N. Rolston, A.C. Flick, T.W. Colburn, Z. Ren, R.H. Dauskardt & T. Buonassisi, “Machine Learning with Knowledge Constraints for Process Optimization of Open-Air Perovskite Solar Cell Manufacturing”, Joule, 2022, DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2022.03.003
  • J. Zhang, Y. Ding, G. Jiang, A.C. Flick, Z. Pan, W.J. Scheideler, O. Zhao, J.P. Chen, L. Yang, N. Rolston & R.H. Dauskardt, “Low-temperature sprayed SnOx nanocomposite films with enhanced hole blocking for efficient large area perovskite solar cells”, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2021, DOI: 10.1039/d1ta05969f
  • N. Rolston, A. Sleugh, J.P. Chen, O. Zhao, T.W. Colburn, A.C. Flick & R.H. Dauskardt, “Perspectives of Open-Air Processing to Enable Perovskite Solar Cell Manufacturing”, Frontiers in Energy Research, 2021, DOI: 10.3389/fenrg.2021.684082
  • N. Rolston, W.J. Scheideler, A. Flick, J.P. Chen, H. Elmaraghi, O. Zhao, M. Woodhouse, & R.H. Dauskardt, “Rapid Open-Air Fabrication of Manufacturable Perovskite Solar Modules”, Joule, 2020, DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2020.11.001

Conference Proceedings and Presentations

  • Austin C. Flick, Thomas W. Colburn, Abigail Carbone, Francisco Barrera, Will Cai, Reinhold H. Dauskardt, "ACCELERATING LOW-COST PEROVSKITE MODULE MANUFACTURING WITH HIGH-THROUGHPUT OPEN-AIR TECHNIQUES", IEEE 53rd PVSC, June 9, 2025. Poster Presentation.
  • A.C. Flick, N. Rolston, M. Fievez & R.H. Dauskardt, “Rapid Spray Plasma Processing for High-Throughput, Multi-Modal Curing of Perovskite Solar Modules”, Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, Honolulu, HI, May 13, 2022. Oral Presentation
  • A.C. Flick & R.H. Dauskardt, “TCO-Based Scribing Mechanism for High-Throughput Perovskite Module Manufacturing”, Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, Boston, MA, December 2, 2021. Oral Presentation
  • A.C. Flick & R.H. Dauskardt, “Scalable Processes for Manufacturable Perovskite Solar Modules”, Stanford Energy Student Lectures 2021, August 23, 2021. Oral Presentation
  • N. Rolston, W.J. Scheideler, A.C. Flick, J.P. Chen, H. Elmaraghi, A. Sleugh, O. Zhao, M. Woodhouse & R.H. Dauskardt, “Rapid Open-Air Processing of Low-Cost Perovskite Solar Modules”, IEEE 48th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, June, 2021. Oral Presentation
  • A.C. Flick & R.H. Dauskardt, “High Throughput, Single-Source Scribing Mechanism for Optimal Interconnections in Thin Film Photovoltaic Modules”, Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, virtual, 2021. Oral Presentation
  • N. Rolston, L. Zhe, A.C. Flick, T.W. Colburn, J. P. Chen, T. Buonassisi & R.H. Dauskardt, “Machine Laerning Tools to Accelerate Perovskite PV Manufacturing”, Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, virtual, 2021. Oral Presentation
  • A.C. Flick, N. Rolston, W.J. Scheideler & R.H. Dauskardt, “Rapid, Scalable, Monolithically Integrated Laser Scribes for Perovskite Solar Modules”, Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, virtual, 2020. Oral Presentation
  • N. Rolston, W.J. Scheideler, A.C. Flick, J.P. Chen, O. Zhao, J. Zhang & R.H. Dauskardt, “Rapid open-air fabrication of scalable and stable perovskite solar modules”, Materials Science and Engineering Centennial Celebration, Stanford, CA, October 30, 2019. Poster Presentation

Education

Ph.D. Stanford University, Materials Science and Engineering, 2024
M.S. Stanford University, Materials Science and Engineering, 2019.
B.S. with Distinction, Stanford University, Materials Science and Engineering, 2019.

Contact

Location

Durand Building, Rm. 111