Impact of lithium dopants in hole-transporting layers on perovskite solar cell stability under day–night cycling

Jinzheng Zhao, Jiupeng Cao, Jingjin Dong, Zihao Li, Ying Chu, Aifei Wang, Fangfang Wang, Bingxu Liu, Rui Xu, Jingyu Zhang, Bocong Zhang, Xiaopeng Hu, Wenjian Yan, Chi Zhang, Shaohua Chen, Laiyuan Wang, Gaojie Chen, Wei Huang () and Tianshi Qin ()
Additional contact information
Jinzheng Zhao: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Jiupeng Cao: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Jingjin Dong: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Zihao Li: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Ying Chu: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Aifei Wang: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Fangfang Wang: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Bingxu Liu: Sun Yat-sen University
Rui Xu: Sun Yat-sen University
Jingyu Zhang: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Bocong Zhang: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Xiaopeng Hu: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Wenjian Yan: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)
Chi Zhang: Sun Yat-sen University
Shaohua Chen: Sun Yat-sen University
Laiyuan Wang: Sun Yat-sen University
Gaojie Chen: Sun Yat-sen University
Wei Huang: Sun Yat-sen University
Tianshi Qin: Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech)

Nature Energy, 2025, vol. 10, issue 10, 1226-1236

Abstract: Abstract Lithium cation dopants enhance hole-transport efficiency and optimize interfacial charge extraction in the hole-transporting layers of perovskite solar cells. Although the migration of lithium cations is known to induce phase transition from α-phase to δ-phase in perovskites, reports of long-term device stability present apparent contradictions. Here we show that, under dark/light alternating conditions, lithium migration induces a rapid degradation of the α-phase perovskite. This degradation is not observed under continuous light-only or dark-only conditions commonly used within the field to test the devices. To address the instability under dark/light cycling, we replace the lithium dopant with a methylammonium dopant. Importantly, we show no unreacted methylammonium dopant in the hole-transport layer film different to the lithium dopant, hinting at a better device stability. We achieve an efficiency of 26.1% (25.6% certified) and T95 lifetimes (that is, time for the device efficiency to decay to 95% of its initial value) of over 1,200 h of continuous light–dark cycling (ISOS-LC-1 certified) and 3,000 voltage-on/off cycles, conditions that are relevant to real-world operation.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-025-01856-z

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