High performance of low-temperature processed perovskite solar cells based on a polyelectrolyte interfacial layer of PEI

Abstract

Abstract Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been paid more attention because of its high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and flexible applications. Low temperature process for PSCs is critical for high performance flexible devices and industrial applications. Herein, the photovoltaic properties of the PSCs based on a polyelectrolyte interfacial layer of polyethyleneimine (PEI) were studied in this work and the configuration of PSCs was indium tin oxide (ITO)/PEI/SnO2/perovskite/spiro-OMeTAD/Ag. Due to the spin-coated PEI on ITO substrates, smooth cathodes (ITO/PEI) with low work function were obtained and the champion PCE of 19.36% and 16.81% for the rigid and flexible devices respectively was achieved accordingly. Moreover, the PCE of the rigid and flexible PSCs with PEI (0.1 mg mL−1) remained ∼95% and ∼90% of the initial values respectively after 80 days in ambient conditions. Meanwhile, the PCE of the flexible PSCs based on PEI (0.1 mg mL−1) remained 85% of the initial value after 100 bending cycles and the bendability of the flexible PSCs was improved accordingly. All the experimental data implied that the fabrication of PEI onto ITO electrodes was an effective way to promote the photovoltaic properties of the low-temperature processed rigid and flexible PSCs.