Surface reaction for efficient and stable inverted perovskite solar cells
Abstract
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with an inverted structure (often referred to as the p–i–n architecture) are attractive for future commercialization owing to their easily scalable fabrication, reliable operation and compatibility with a wide range of perovskite-based tandem device architectures. However, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of p–i–n PSCs falls behind that of n–i–p (or normal) structure counterparts. This large performance gap could undermine efforts to adopt p–i–n architectures, despite their other advantages. Given the remarkable advances in perovskite bulk materials optimization over the past decade, interface engineering has become the most important strategy to push PSC performance to its limit. Here we report a reactive surface engineering approach based on a simple post-growth treatment of 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine (3-APy) on top of a perovskite thin film. First, the 3-APy molecule selectively reacts with surface formamidinium ions, reducing perovskite surface roughness and surface potential fluctuations associated with surface steps and terraces. Second, the reaction product on the perovskite surface decreases the formation energy of charged iodine vacancies, leading to effective n-type doping with a reduced work function in the surface region. With this reactive surface engineering, the resulting p–i–n PSCs obtained a PCE of over 25?per cent, along with retaining 87?per cent of the initial PCE after over 2,400?hours of 1-sun operation at about 55?degrees Celsius in air.
Author information
Chemistry and Nanoscience Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
Qi Jiang, Jinhui Tong, Ross A. Kerner, Rebecca A. Scheidt, Darius Kuciauskas, Matthew P. Hautzinger, Robert Tirawat, Matthew C. Beard, Bryon W. Larson & Kai Zhu
Department of Physics and Astronomy and Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
Yeming Xian, Xiaoming Wang & Yanfa Yan
Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
Sean P. Dunfield & David P. Fenning
Materials Science Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
Sean P. Dunfield, Chuanxiao Xiao & Joseph J. Berry
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
Joseph J. Berry
Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
Joseph J. Berry
Contributions
Q.J., J.T. and K.Z. conceived the idea. K.Z. supervised the projects and process. Q.J. fabricated perovskite films and devices and conducted X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible and stability measurements. J.T. was involved in material and device design and analysis. Y.X. carried out the DFT calculation, with help from X.W., under the supervision of Y.Y. R.A.K. and B.W.L. were involved in surface reaction study and relevant analysis. S.P.D. performed XPS and UPS measurements and analysis under the guidance of D.P.F. C.X. performed AFM and KPFM characterizations and analysis. R.A.S. conducted the transient reflection measurement and analysis under the guidance of M.C.B. D.K. performed the photoluminescence characterization and analysis. M.P.H. prepared the 3-APy halide salts. R.T. helped to work on device stability test under the supervision of J.J.B. B.W.L. conducted the time-resolved microwave conductivity measurement and analysis. Q.J. and K.Z. wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the revisions of the manuscript.
Corresponding authors
Correspondence to Yanfa Yan or Kai Zhu.
For More information, please visit: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05268-x#Abs1
Sources: Nature volume 611, pages278–283 (2022)
Published: 01 September 2022
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05268-x
Disclaimer:
Partial content of this page is transferred from the network, only for the use of scientific communication, if there is infringement, please contact us to delete. See the Privacy Policy for more information.