Surface reaction for efficient and stable inverted perovskite solar cells

Qi Jiang, Jinhui Tong, Yeming Xian, Ross A. Kerner, Sean P. Dunfield, Chuanxiao Xiao, Rebecca A. Scheidt, Darius Kuciauskas, Xiaoming Wang, Matthew P. Hautzinger, Robert Tirawat, Matthew C. Beard, David P. Fenning, Joseph J. Berry, Bryon W. Larson, Yanfa Yan () and Kai Zhu ()
Additional contact information
Qi Jiang: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Jinhui Tong: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Yeming Xian: University of Toledo
Ross A. Kerner: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Sean P. Dunfield: University of California San Diego
Chuanxiao Xiao: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Rebecca A. Scheidt: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Darius Kuciauskas: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Xiaoming Wang: University of Toledo
Matthew P. Hautzinger: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Robert Tirawat: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Matthew C. Beard: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
David P. Fenning: University of California San Diego
Joseph J. Berry: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Bryon W. Larson: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Yanfa Yan: University of Toledo
Kai Zhu: National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Nature, 2022, vol. 611, issue 7935, 278-283

Abstract: 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 architectures1,2. However, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of p–i–n PSCs falls behind that of n–i–p (or normal) structure counterparts3–6. 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 limit7,8. 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.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05268-x

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