State‐of‐the‐art perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have bandgaps that are invariably larger than 1.45 eV, which limits their theoretically attainable power conversion efficiency. The emergent mixed‐(Pb, Sn) perovskites with bandgaps of 1.2–1.3 eV are ideal for single‐junction solar cells according to the Shockley–Queisser limit, and they have the potential to deliver higher efficiency. Nevertheless, the high chemical activity of Sn(II) in these perovskites makes it extremely challenging to control their physical properties and chemical stability, thereby leading to PSCs with relatively low PCE and stability. In this work, the authors employ the Lewis‐adduct SnF2·3FACl additive in the solution‐processing of ideal‐bandgap halide perovskites (IBHPs), and prepare uniform large‐grain perovskite thin films containing continuously functionalized grain boundaries with the stable SnF2phase. Such Sn(II)‐rich grain‐boundary networks significantly enhance the physical properties and chemical stability of the IBHP thin films. Based on this approach, PSCs with an ideal bandgap of 1.3 eV are fabricated with a promising efficiency of 15.8%, as well as enhanced stability. The concept of Lewis‐adduct‐mediated grain‐boundary functionalization in IBHPs presented here points to a new chemical route for approaching the Shockley–Queisser limit in future stable PSCs.
High‐performance tin‐lead perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are needed for all‐perovskite‐tandem solar cells. However, iodide related fast photodegradation severely limits the operational stability of Sn‐Pb perovskites despite the demonstrated high efficiency and thermal stability. Herein, this work employs an alkylammonium pseudo‐halogen additive to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and photostability of methylammonium (MA)‐free, Sn‐Pb PSCs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the pseudo‐halogen tetrafluoroborate (BF4−) has strong binding capacity with metal ions (Sn2+/Pb2+) in the Sn‐Pb perovskite lattice, which lowers iodine vacancy formation. Upon combining BF4−with an octylammonium (OA+) cation, the PCE of the device with a built‐in light‐scattering layer is boosted to 23.7%, which represents a new record for Sn‐Pb PSCs. The improved efficiency benefits from the suppressed defect density. Under continuous 1 sun illumination, the OABF4embodied PSCs show slower generation of interstitial iodides and iodine, which greatly improves the device photostability under open‐circuit condition. Moreover, the device based on OABF4retains 88% of the initial PCE for 1000 h under the maximum‐power‐point tracking (MPPT) without cooling.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 2050357
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10418672
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Energy Materials
- Volume:
- 13
- Issue:
- 15
- ISSN:
- 1614-6832
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Molecular I2can be produced from iodide‐based lead perovskites under thermal stress; triiodide, I3−, is formed from this I2and I−. Triiodide attacks protic cation MA+‐ or FA+‐based lead halide perovskites (MA+, methylammonium; FA+, formamidinium) as explicated through solution‐based nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies: triiodide has strong hydrogen‐bonding affinity for MA+or FA+, which leads to their deprotonation and perovskite decomposition. Triiodide is a catalyst for this decomposition that can be obviated through perovskite surface treatment with thiol reducing agents. In contrast to methods using thiol incorporation into perovskite precursor solutions, no penetration of the thiol into the bulk perovskite is observed, yet its surface application stabilizes the perovskite against triiodide‐mediated thermal stress. Thiol applied to the interface between FAPbI3and Spiro‐OMeTAD (“Spiro”) prevents oxidized iodine species penetration into Spiro and thus preserves its hole‐transport efficacy. Surface‐applied thiol affects the perovskite work function; it ameliorates hole injection into the Spiro overlayer, thus improving device performance. It helps to increase interfacial adhesion (“wetting”): fewer voids are observed at the Spiro/perovskite interface if thiols are applied. Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) incorporating interfacial thiol treatment maintain over 80% of their initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) after 300 h of 85 °C thermal stress.
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Abstract The combined effects of compact TiO2(c‐TiO2) electron‐transport layer (ETL) are investigated without and with mesoscopic TiO2(m‐TiO2) on top, and without and with an iodine‐terminated silane self‐assembled monolayer (SAM), on the mechanical behavior, opto–electronic properties, photovoltaic (PV) performance, and operational‐stability of solar cells based on metal‐halide perovskites (MHPs). The interfacial toughness increases almost threefold in going from c‐TiO2without SAM to m‐TiO2with SAM. This is attributed to the synergistic effect of the m‐TiO2/MHP nanocomposite at the interface and the enhanced adhesion afforded by the iodine‐terminated silane SAM. The combination of m‐TiO2and SAM also offers a significant beneficial effect on the photocarriers extraction at the ETL/MHP interface, resulting in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with power‐conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 24% and 20% for 0.1 and 1 cm2active areas, respectively. These PSCs also have exceptionally long operational‐stability lives: extrapolated
T 80 (duration at 80% initial PCE retained) is ≈18 000 and 10 000 h for 0.1 and 1 cm2active areas, respectively.Postmortem characterization and analyses of the operational‐stability‐tested PSCs are performed to elucidate the possible mechanisms responsible for the long operational‐stability. -
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Abstract Composition and film quality of perovskite are crucial for the further improvement of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), including efficiency, reproducibility, and stability. Here, it is demonstrated that by simply mixing 50% of formamidinium (FA+) into methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3), a highly crystalline, stable phase, and compact, polycrystalline grain morphology perovskite is formed by using a solvent‐mediated phase transformation process via the synergism of dimethyl sulfoxide and diethyl ether, which shows long carrier lifetime, low trap state density, and a record certified 21.8% power conversion efficiency (PCE) in pure‐iodide, alkaline‐metal‐free MA0.5FA0.5PbI3perovskite‐based PSCs. These PSCs show very high operational stability, with 85% PCE retention upon 1000 h 1 Sun intensity illumination. A 17.33% PCE module (6.5 × 7 cm2) is also demonstrated, attesting to the scalability of such devices.
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Abstract Semiconducting molecules have been employed to passivate traps extant in the perovskite film for enhancement of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) efficiency and stability. A molecular design strategy to passivate the defects both on the surface and interior of the CH3NH3PbI3perovskite layer, using two phthalocyanine (Pc) molecules (
NP ‐SC6‐ZnPc andNP ‐SC6‐TiOPc) is demonstrated. The presence of lone electron pairs on S, N, and O atoms of the Pc molecular structures provides the opportunity for Lewis acid–base interactions with under‐coordinated Pb2+sites, leading to efficient defect passivation of the perovskite layer. The tendency of bothNP ‐SC6‐ZnPc andNP ‐SC6‐TiOPc to relax on the PbI2terminated surface of the perovskite layer is also studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The morphology of the perovskite layer is improved due to employing the Pc passivation strategy, resulting in high‐quality thin films with a dense and compact structure and lower surface roughness. UsingNP ‐SC6‐ZnPc andNP ‐SC6‐TiOPc as passivating agents, it is observed considerably enhanced power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), from 17.67% for the PSCs based on the pristine perovskite film to 19.39% forNP ‐SC6‐TiOPc passivated devices. Moreover, PSCs fabricated based on the Pc passivation method present a remarkable stability under conditions of high moisture and temperature levels.
