Methylammonium Lead Triiodide Perovskite Research Articles

Ionic Reactivity at Contacts and Aging of Methylammonium Lead Triiodide Perovskite Solar Cells

Hybrid lead halide perovskites have reached very large solar to electricity power conversion efficiencies, in some cases exceeding 20%. The most extensively used perovskite‐based solar cell configuration comprises CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) in combination with electron (TiO2) and hole 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9‐spiro‐bifluorene (spiro‐OMeTAD) selective contacts. The recognition that the solar cell performance is heavily affected by time scale of the measurement and preconditioning procedures has raised many concerns about the stability of the device and reliability for long‐time operation. Mechanisms at contacts originate observable current–voltage distortions. Two types of reactivity sources have been identified here: (i) weak Ti–I–Pb bonds that facilitate interfacial accommodation of moving iodine ions. This interaction produces a highly reversible capacitive current originated at the TiO2/MAPbI3 interface, and it does not alter steady‐state photovoltaic features. (ii) An irreversible redox peak only observable after positive poling at slow scan rates. It corresponds to the chemical reaction between spiro‐OMeTAD+ and migrating I− which progressively reduces the hole transporting material conductivity and deteriorates solar cell performance.

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Charge Transport in CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskites Predicted from First-Principles.

Both intrinsic and extrinsic charge transport properties of methylammonium lead triiodide perovskites are investigated from first-principles. The weak electron-phonon couplings are revealed, with the largest deformation potential (~ 5 eV) comparable to that of single layer graphene. The intrinsic mobility limited by the acoustic phonon scattering is as high as a few thousands cm2 V−1 s−1 with the hole mobility larger than the electron mobility. At the impurity density of 1018 cm−3, the charged impurity scattering starts to dominate and lowers the electron mobility to 101 cm2 V−1 s−1 and the hole mobility to 72.2 cm2 V−1 s−1. The high intrinsic mobility warrants the long and balanced diffusion length of charge carriers. With the control of impurities or defects as well as charge traps in these perovskites, enhanced efficiencies of solar cells with simplified device structures are promised.

Light and oxygen induced degradation limits the operational stability of methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite solar cells

Here, we demonstrate that light and oxygen-induced degradation is the main reason for the low operational stability of methylammonium lead triiodide (MeNH3PbI3) perovskite solar cells exposed to ambient conditions.

Correction: Light and oxygen induced degradation limits the operational stability of methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite solar cells

Correction for ‘Light and oxygen induced degradation limits the operational stability of methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite solar cells’ by Daniel Bryant et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2016, DOI: 10.1039/c6ee00409a.

Dispersion relation data for methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite deposited on a (100) silicon wafer using a two-step vapour-phase reaction process.

Ellipsometry was used to measure the amplitude ratio and phase difference of light undergoing a phase shift as it interacts with a thin film of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPI) deposited onto a (100) silicon wafer. The refractive index and extinction coefficient was extracted from a multi-oscillator model fit to the ellipsometry data, as a function of wavelength, from 300 to 1500 nm.

Photodecomposition and Morphology Evolution of Organometal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

We study the photoinduced degradation of hybrid organometal perovskite photovoltaics under illumination and ambient atmosphere using UV–vis absorption, atomic force microscopy, and device performance. We correlate the structural changes in the surface of the perovskite film with changes in the optical and electronic properties of the devices. The photodecomposition of the methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite layer itself proceeds much more slowly than the photodegradation of the performance of devices with fullerene/bathocuproine/aluminum top contacts, indicating that the active layer alone is more stable than the interface with the electrodes in this geometry. The evolution of the perovskite active layer performance proceeded through several phases: (1) an initial improvement in device characteristics, (2) a plateau with very slow degradation, and (3) a catastrophic decline in material performance accompanied by marked changes in film morphology. The rapid increase in surface roughness of the active ...

Methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite solar cells: A new paradigm in photovoltaics

Abstract

High efficiency methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite solar cells: the relevance of non-stoichiometric precursors

Improved crystallinity and device performance of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells by using a non-stoichiometric PbI2 : CH3NH3I precursor ratio.

Organic–Inorganic Halide Perovskites: Perspectives for Silicon-Based Tandem Solar Cells

We investigate the efficiency potential of organic-inorganic halide perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem solar cells, a new class of photovoltaic devices targeting long-term cost reductions by ultrahigh conversion efficiencies. Methyl ammonium lead triiodide perovskite solar cells are particularly interesting as the top cell in Si-based tandem devices due to their suitable band gap, high photovoltage, and low sub-bandgap absorption. We derive optical models for a perovskite/Si tandem cell with Lambertian light trapping in the perovskite top cell, as well as for a top cell in the single pass limit. We find that unlike for other thin-film device architectures, light trapping is not required for the triiodide perovskite/Si tandem to reach matched top and bottom cell currents. While a Lambertian top cell could be employed in a four-terminal tandem, a top cell in the single pass limit enables a current-matched monolithic device with realistic top cell thicknesses. We calculate a limiting efficiency of 35.67% for an ideal (no parasitic absorption, ideal contacts) monolithic tandem, assuming a top cell open-circuit voltage of 1100 mV.

Improved morphology control using a modified two-step method for efficient perovskite solar cells.

A two-step wet chemical synthesis method for methylammonium lead(II) triiodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite is further developed for the preparation of highly reproducible solar cells, with the following structure: fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/TiO2 (compact)/TiO2 (mesoporous)/CH3NH3PbI3/spiro-OMeTAD/Ag. The morphology of the perovskite layer could be controlled by careful variation of the processing conditions. Specifically, by modifying the drying process and inclusion of a dichloromethane treatment, more uniform films could be prepared, with longer emission lifetime in the perovskite material and longer electron lifetime in solar cell devices, as well as faster electron transport and enhanced charge collection at the selective contacts. Solar cell efficiencies up to 13.5% were obtained.

Strong Photocurrent Amplification in Perovskite Solar Cells with a Porous TiO2 Blocking Layer under Reverse Bias.

We investigate two different types of TiO2 blocking layer (BL) deposition techniques commonly used in solid-state methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite (MaPbI3)-based solar cells. Although these BLs lead to similar photovoltaic device performance, their structure and blocking capability is actually very different. In one case, the "blocking" layer is porous, allowing an intimate contact of the perovskite with the fluorine-doped tin-dioxide (FTO)-covered glass substrate serving as transparent electron collector. This interface between the perovskite and the FTO shows rectifying behavior. Reverse biasing of such a solar cell allows the determination of the valence-band position of the MaPbI3 and the theoretical maximum attainable photovoltage. We show that under reverse bias strong photocurrent amplification is observed, permitting the cell to work as a high-gain photodetector at low voltage. Without BL, the solar-cell performance decreased, but the photocurrent amplification increased. At 1 V reverse bias, the photocurrent amplification is above a factor of 10 for AM 1.5 solar light and over 100 for lower light intensities.