Overcoming efficiency and cost barriers for large-area quantum dot photovoltaics through stable ink engineering

Guozheng Shi, Xiaobo Ding, Zeke Liu (), Yang Liu, Yifan Chen, Cheng Liu, Zitao Ni, Haibin Wang, Katsuji Ito, Keisuke Igarashi, Kun Feng, Kaicheng Zhang, Larry Lüer, Wei Chen, Xingyi Lyu, Bin Song, Xiang Sun, Lin Yuan, Dong Liu, Yusheng Li, Kunyuan Lu, Wei Deng, Youyong Li, Peter Müller-Buschbaum, Tao Li, Jun Zhong, Satoshi Uchida, Takaya Kubo, Ning Li, Joseph M. Luther, Hiroshi Segawa (), Qing Shen (), Christoph J. Brabec and Wanli Ma ()
Additional contact information
Guozheng Shi: Soochow University
Xiaobo Ding: Soochow University
Zeke Liu: Soochow University
Yang Liu: Soochow University
Yifan Chen: Soochow University
Cheng Liu: Soochow University
Zitao Ni: Yunnan University
Haibin Wang: The University of Tokyo
Katsuji Ito: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
Keisuke Igarashi: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
Kun Feng: Soochow University
Kaicheng Zhang: Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Larry Lüer: Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Wei Chen: Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU)
Xingyi Lyu: Northern Illinois University
Bin Song: Soochow University
Xiang Sun: Soochow University
Lin Yuan: Soochow University
Dong Liu: The University of Electro-Communications
Yusheng Li: The University of Electro-Communications
Kunyuan Lu: Soochow University
Wei Deng: Soochow University
Youyong Li: Soochow University
Peter Müller-Buschbaum: Chair for Functional Materials
Tao Li: Northern Illinois University
Jun Zhong: Soochow University
Satoshi Uchida: The University of Tokyo
Takaya Kubo: The University of Tokyo
Ning Li: Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Joseph M. Luther: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Hiroshi Segawa: The University of Tokyo
Qing Shen: The University of Electro-Communications
Christoph J. Brabec: Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Wanli Ma: Soochow University

Nature Energy, 2025, vol. 10, issue 5, 592-604

Abstract: Abstract The bottom-up construction of electronics from colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) could innovate nanotechnology manufacturing through printing. However, the unstable and expensive semiconductive CQD inks make the scaling up of CQD electronics challenging. Here we develop a strategy for engineering the solution chemistry of lead sulfide (PbS) CQD inks prepared from a low-cost direct synthesis method. By creating an iodine-rich environment in weakly coordinating solvents, we convert the iodoplumbates into functional anions, which condense into a robust surface shell. The fully charged electrostatic surface layer prevents aggregation and epitaxial fusion of CQDs, yielding stable inks. By eliminating the fusion-induced inter-band states, we print a compact CQD film with uniformity in three dimensions, flattened energy landscape and improved carrier transport. We achieved a certified efficiency of 13.40% on 0.04 cm2 cells, with a 300-fold increase in active area, scaling up to a 12.60 cm2 module with a certified efficiency of 10%.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-025-01746-4

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