Numerical analysis of a hysteresis model in perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Previously, we proposed that the polarization and capacitive charge in CH3NH3PbI3 screens the external electric field that hinders charge transport. We argue here that this screening effect is in significant part responsible for the power conversion characteristics and hysteresis in CH3NH3PbI3 photovoltaic cells. In this paper, we implement capacitive charge and polarization charge into the numerical model that we have developed for perovskite solar cells. Fields induced by these two charges screen the applied hindering field, promote charge transport, and improve solar cell’s performance, especially in solar cells with short diffusion lengths. This is the reason why perovskite solar cells made from simple fabrication methods can achieve high performance. More importantly, with relaxations of capacitive charge and polarization charge, we quantitatively reproduce experimental “anomalous” hysteresis J-V curves. This reveals that both polarization relaxation and ions relaxation could contribute to anomalous hysteresis in perovskite solar cells.