Performance Of Photovoltaic Cells Research Articles

A Critical Review on Various Buffer Layers used to Enhance the Photovoltaic Performance of Organic Solar Cells

Abstract: Due to the high need for sustainable energy sources, there has been a tremendous increase in SC (solar cell) production and research in recent years. Despite the fact that inorganic SC has led the SC consumer market due to its exceptional efficiency, its expensive and difficult manufacture method makes it unaffordable. Hence alternative technology for SC has been explored by researchers to overcome the draw backs of inorganic SC fabrication. OSC (organic solar cell) alternatively known as polymer SC has the advantage of having lightweight, low production cost, and simple device structure. During the last few years, significant attention has been given in order to overcome the material and technological barriers in OSC devices to make them commercially viable. Buffer layers play a significant part in improving the power conversion efficiencies in OSCs, thus it is necessary to comprehend the underlying microscopic mechanisms that underlie the advancements in order to support the current qualitative knowledge. In this review article, we have studied extensively the impact of different BLs (buffer-layer) in enhancing the PCE (power conversion efficiency) and absorption capabilities of OSCs.

Enhanced Photovoltaic Efficiency through 3D-Printed COC/Al₂O₃ Anti-Reflective Coversheets

In the past few years, there has been a considerable growth in the utilization of solar cells to produce electrical power to fulfil the growing worldwide energy demands. An optical loss is a crucial factor that impacts the performance of the photovoltaic conversion process. This loss occurs when incoming sunlight is reflected back on the outer layer of the photovoltaic cells. The application of antireflective materials on the photovoltaic substrates can enhance the absorption of sunlight and minimize the reflection. Currently, there is no ideal anti-reflective coating for solar cells that can allow the transmission of sunlight without any reflection. In this research, a transparent cyclic-olefin-copolymer (COC) was used to fabricate anti-reflection (AR) coversheet by fused deposition modelling process (3D printing). Further, the aluminium oxide Al2O3 powder was added at the proportions of 1wt%, 2wt%, 3wt%, and 4wt% to the COC polymer to increase the anti-reflection characteristics. The structural, morphological, mechanical (tear strength), electrical and temperature characteristics were studied. The performance of COC with aluminium oxide (COCA) coversheets was evaluated, and the findings revealed a considerable increment in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.21% (sunlight exposure) and 18.34% (neodymium light) for COCA3 coversheets. As seen, the COCA3 sample exhibit lower electrical resistance of 3.88 ×10-3 Ω cm, carrier concentration (36.91×1020 cm-3) and higher hall mobility (13.67 cm2/Vs). The findings from the investigations demonstrated that the utilization of COC with Al2O3 powder (COCA) can be a suitable antireflective coversheet material for boosting the performance of polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells.

Sublimation and Recrystallization of CsPbBr3 Constructing a Perovskite-Carbon Interface to Facilitate Hole Transfer in Printable All-Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells.

All-inorganic perovskite solar cells (APSCs) are a promising photovoltaic technology due to their unique physical and optical properties. For printable all-inorganic perovskite solar cells, the key factors limiting their photoelectric conversion performance are the crystallization of perovskite and the hole collection capability at the perovskite-carbon interface. In this study, leveraging the high-temperature tolerance of CsPbBr3 perovskite, the sublimation and recrystallization processes were controlled, significantly improving the crystalline quality of the perovskite and suppressing the generation of the nonphotovoltaic CsPb2Br5 phase. Furthermore, a continuous distribution of high-quality CsPbBr3 crystals was achieved at the interface between the carbon electrode and the zirconium oxide layer, ensuring efficient collection of photogenerated holes. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the printable mesoscopic all-inorganic perovskite solar cell was increased from 5.04 to 8.34% (with a record value of 10.04%) and achieved an ultrahigh open-circuit voltage of 1.54 V due to the significant improvement in the crystal quality of CsPbBr3. This study proposes a novel strategy to enhance the photovoltaic conversion performance of carbon-based all-inorganic perovskite solar cells by suppressing the presence of nonphotovoltaic phases.

A Universal Ternary Solvent System of Surface Passivator Enables Perovskite Solar Cells with Efficiency Exceeding 26.

Surface passivation is a vital approach to improve the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), in which the passivator solvent is an inevitable but easy-ignored factor on passivation effects. Herein, a universal ternary solvent system of surface passivators is proposed through comprehensively considering the solubility and selective perovskite dissolution of the solvent to maximize the passivation effect. Tetrahydrothiophene 1-oxide (THTO) is selected as the passivation promoter by comparing the binding energy with perovskite and the ability to distort the perovskite lattice among various aprotic polar solvent molecules, which can facilitate the passivator's reaction with perovskite and achieve sufficient passivation on perovskite surface. Besides, chlorobenzene (CB) is used as the diluting agent to minimize the amount of isopropanol (IPA), inhibiting the additional solvent-induced defects. As a result, the planar PSCs achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.05%, (certificated 25.66%). Besides, the unencapsulated devices exhibit enhanced stability, which can maintain 95.23% and 95.68% of their initial PCE after 2000h of storage in ambient air and 800h of light-soaking in N2-glovebox. Moreover, this ternary solvent system also exhibits a well applicability and reliability in different passivator such as PEAI, BAI, and so on.

Theoretical improvement of the energy conversion efficiency of an AZO/CdTe heterojunction solar cell to over 27% by incorporating FeSi2 as a second absorber layer

Abstract This paper presents the numerical analysis of cadmium telluride (CdTe) based solar cells using iron di silicide (FeSi2) as the second absorber layer and aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) as the window layer. The photovoltaic performance of solar cells with Al/AZO/CdTe/FeSi2/Ni structure was analyzed and improved by SCAPS-1D software. When analyzing the influence of thickness and carrier concentration on the photovoltaic performance, it was found that the optimum values for the CdTe layer were 300 nm and 1015 cm-3, for the AZO layer they were 10 nm and 1018 cm-3, while for the FeSi2 layer they were 1 µm and 1018 cm-3. The defect density (Nt) at the AZO/CdTe and CdTe/FeSi2 interfaces was also analyzed, obtaining that the optimum value of Nt is 1010 cm-2 at both interfaces. Device optimization is achieved by obtaining a maximum Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE) of 27.22% with an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.63 V, a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 51.43 mA/cm2 and a fill factor (FF) of 83.06%, which makes FeSi2 a potential alternative for the development of CdTe-based solar cells due to its absorption of photons with lower energy wavelengths.

Fabrication of solid-state plasmonic solar cell device using FTO|TiO2|Ag-nanoparticle assembly to generate hot electrons surpassing Schottky barrier

This work presents a detailed investigation into the fabrication and performance evaluation of plasmonic solar cells, where a thin film of silver nanoparticles is deposited onto a TiO₂ layer, with the silver film itself functioning as the active layer for light absorption and energy conversion. The study compares two deposition techniques—DC Magnetron Sputtering and Thermal Vapor Deposition (TVD)—revealing significant differences in the resulting device performance. The device fabricated using TVD demonstrated a significantly higher open circuit voltage of 440.3 mV and short circuit current density of 1.6 mA/cm² compared to the device fabricated via DC Magnetron Sputtering, which recorded an open circuit voltage of 56.92 mV and a short circuit current density of 0.03 mA/cm². These results indicate that TVD offers superior electron-hole separation, reduced recombination losses, and enhanced light absorption efficiency. The main contribution of this work lies in demonstrating that the TVD technique significantly improves the photovoltaic performance of plasmonic solar cells compared to DC Magnetron Sputtering. The study validates the hot-electron mechanism at the TiO2|Ag junction using Kelvin probe force microscopy, contributing valuable insights into the role of plasmonic effects in enhancing solar cell efficiency. Additionally, it underscores the potential of TVD for developing advanced solar cell technologies with higher energy conversion efficiency.

Interface properties study of black silicon solar cells with front surface a-Si:H/c-Si heterojunction

Abstract The exceptionally low reflectance of black silicon across a broad wavelength range makes it an intriguing surface texture for solar cell applications. Silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells fabricated on black silicon (Si) formed by dry reactive ion etching (RIE) using inductive coupled plasma (ICP) on n-type Si are explored. The study is focused on the properties of the a-Si:H/c-Si interface, being a key issue for the photovoltaic performance of SHJ. Deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) detected no radiation defect in Si after the etching. The surface of black Si was passivated with an intrinsic a-Si:H layer, followed by the deposition of p-type and n-type a-Si:H on the front and back sides, respectively. The SHJ solar cell photovoltaic performance based on black Si is strongly influenced by defect density at the a-Si:H/Si interface. Admittance spectroscopy and effective charge carrier lifetime measurements demonstrate that interface defect density decreases with the increase of (i)a-Si:H thickness. The value of 0.75 ms effective charge carrier lifetime was reached for single (i) a-Si:H layer passivation and 0.25 ms when (p)a-Si:H was deposited over the intrinsic a-Si:H layer. The measured open circuit voltage (VOC) values for the SHJ solar cells increase with the (i)a-Si:H layer thickness reaching 658 mV. However, the fill factor decreases with increasing (i) a-Si:H layer thickness, limiting the efficiency at the maximum value below 14% due to the thickness uniformity of the a-Si:H layer. The development of conformal growth of a-Si:H is a key issue for further improvement of black Si heterojunction solar cell photovoltaic performance. 

Multi-synergy enabling Ni-doped MoS2@N-doped carbon composite as versatile catalysts toward hydrogen production and photovoltaics

Construction of efficient non-precious catalyst with desired chemical composition and well-defined nanostructure is of great essential to enhance the kinetics of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and triiodide (I3−) reduction reaction (IRR), which is conducive to promote the development of green hydrogen production and obtain impressive photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Herein, ZIF-8 derived N-doped carbon (NC) wrapped with two-dimensional Ni-doped MoS2 nanosheets (Ni–MoS2@NC) are elaborately designed. The catalytic activity of Ni–MoS2@NC for HER and IRR are significantly improved by modifying electronic structure through heteroatom doping. The optimized Ni–MoS2@NC has lower overpotential of 122 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in comparison with counterpart. Meanwhile, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs based on Ni–MoS2@NC CE catalyst is comparable to that of Pt. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation is used to unveil the mechanism of Ni–MoS2@NC for alkaline HER and IRR, namely, the multi-synergy of various sites endows Ni–MoS2@NC with appropriate Gibbs free energy for H∗ adsorption and water dissociation energy, while the top and interfacial S sites of Ni–MoS2@NC are responsible for the adsorption and activation of I3−. Our work provides a feasible route to design efficient catalysts in the field of energy conversion and understand mechanism.

Post-Treating Grain Boundaries and Surface Defects by Long-Chain Polymer for Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Grain boundaries (GBs) and surface defects within perovskite films are inherent challenges that affect the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs. In this work, Nylon 11 (N11) is utilized, a long-chain polymer, for post-treating the GBs and surface defects within FAPbI3 films. The multifunctional groups of N11 exhibit unique passivation abilities, enabling self-regulation and selective correction of reverse-charged defects. Post-treating with N11 results in high-quality FAPbI3 films characterized by tight GBs and low surface defect density. Despite fabrication under full open-air conditions, the N11 post-treatment significantly enhances the power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of FAPbI3 PSCs, increasing it from the reference value of 21.89% to 23.54%. Importantly, the long alkyl chain present in N11 significantly enhances the humidity stability of the PSCs. Unencapsulated PSCs treated with N11 maintain 89% of their initial PCE after exposure to air with 30% relative humidity (RH) for 1000h, demonstrating resilience to elevated humidity levels. This work highlights the substantial improvement in the photovoltaic performance of PSCs achieved through the post-treatment with N11.

Enhancing the Performance of Photovoltaic Solar Cells using a Hybrid Cooling Technique of Thermoelectric Generator and Heat Sink

Abstract This study aims to enhance the performance of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells by employing a hybrid cooling technique involving a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and heat sink. Three configuration modules are investigated both experimentally and numerically: module 01: PV only (PV), module 02: PV with TEG (PV-TEG), and module 03: PV with TEG and heat sink (PV-TEG-HS). These modules have been examined numerically under various weather conditions, including solar radiation, wind speed, and ambient temperature. The experimental and numerical results indicate that as solar radiation increases from 500 to 1000 W/m2, the temperature of the PV back sheet and PV solar cell also increases. Specifically, for module PV, module PV-TEG, and module PV-TEG-HS, the temperature increases by 57.3%, 56.1%, and 32% respectively. Additionally, the percentage output power (Pout) of the PV increases with rising solar radiation for the three modules, reaching 60.5%, 62.0%, and 87.39% respectively. Moreover, the percentage Pout of the TEG also increases with the increasing solar radiation for the three modules, with percentages of 0%, 299.25%, and 311.96% respectively. Furthermore, increasing wind speed leads to a decrease in the temperatures of the back sheet and solar cell, while simultaneously increasing the Pout of the PV for all three modules. However, the Pout of the TEG in module PV-TEG-HS decreases. The impact of increasing ambient temperatures on module PV-TEG-HS is relatively small compared to the other modules.

Enhancing photovoltaic performance of organic solar cells by embedding plasmonic Ag nanocuboid array in the active layer

Enhancing photovoltaic performance of organic solar cells by embedding plasmonic Ag nanocuboid array in the active layer

Photovoltaic performance in CIGS solar cells: effects of using Mg- and Al-doped ZnO thin-film layers as alternative TCO and front contact layer

Photovoltaic performance in CIGS solar cells: effects of using Mg- and Al-doped ZnO thin-film layers as alternative TCO and front contact layer

Functionalized sp2 Carbon-Conjugated Covalent Organic Frameworks for Interfacial Modulation of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

Interfacial modulation utilizing functional materials is proven to be crucial for obtaining high photovoltaic performance in lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This study investigates, for the first time, the utilization of a pyrene-based sp2 carbon-conjugated covalent organic framework (sp2c-COF) as an interfacial layer in inverted PSCs. Functionalized with cyano (-CN) Lewis base groups, the sp2c-COF exhibits a dual effect, simultaneously passivating both the NiOx and the perovskite layers. Detailed characterization results highlight the role of sp2c-COF in reducing the Ni3+ defect density in NiOx films and forming Lewis acid-base adducts with undercoordinated Pb2+ on the perovskite surfaces, thereby inhibiting interfacial redox reactions and suppressing non-radiative recombination. Moreover, sp2c-COF leads to improved crystallinity of perovskite films. Benefiting from the synergistic effects, sp2c-COF-modified devices delivered a champion efficiency of 17.64%. These findings underscore the potential of sp2c-COF as a functional interface material for PSCs, offering enhanced efficiency and stability. The study contributes to advancing the understanding and application of covalent organic frameworks in photovoltaic technologies.

The interplay between optoelectronic and magnetic properties in Co-doped Cu2ZnSnS4 for next-generation solar cell devices

Abstract A search for next-generation solar cell devices to massively actualize renewable energy is being exponentially conducted. It includes the development of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS)-based solar cells, which are known as cost-effective and highly stable solar cell devices. In this present research, we develop a CZTS solar cell by adding a magnetic degree of freedom using cobalt (Co) doping. We find that the Co doping can induce modulation of the crystalline structure and bandgap of CZTS, which further influences its photovoltaic performance. The increase in the grain size of the CZTS with the addition of Co doping could further induce the reduction of detrimental grain boundaries, which benefits the photovoltaic performance of CZTS-based solar cells. Co doping also generates magnetic behavior in CZTS, which supports its magnetically controlled optoelectronic properties and thus, in turn, enhances the photovoltaic performance. We believe that this study could open up opportunities to obtain next-generation solar cell devices with excellent performances by using magnetic-field induction.

Extending Shelf-life of Two-step Method Precursor Solutions through Targeted Regulation for Highly Efficient and Reproducible Perovskite Solar Cells.

Precursor solution aging process can cause significant influence on the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). Notably, we first observe that the aging phenomenon is more severe in the precursor of two-step sequential method compared to that in one-step method due to that the protic solvent isopropanol facilitates amine-cation side reaction and iodide ions oxidation. Herein, we report a novel approach for selectively stabilizing both organic amine salt and lead iodide (PbI2) precursor solutions in two-step method. The introduction of benzene-1,3-dithiol into organic amine salt solution can mitigate amine-cation side reactions due to the formation of an acidic and reducing environment. Simultaneously, decamethylferrocene (FcMe10/FcMe+10) pair can act as a redox shuttle in PbI2 solution to concurrently oxidize Pb0 and reduce I2 in cyclic manner. Consequently, the PVSCs device fabricated from ameliorative precursor solutions demonstrates superior power conversion efficiency of 25.31%, retaining 95% of its efficiency after 21 days of solution aging. Moreover, the unencapsulated devices maintain 85% of primitive efficiency for 1500 h at maximum power point tracking under continuous illumination. This work establishes a fundamental guidance and scientific direction for the stabilization of two-step perovskite precursor solutions.

Fabrication, photovoltaic analysis, and electrical characterization of Au/ZnTPyP/p-Si/Ag heterojunction under gamma radiation effect for solar cell applications

The main objective of the current study is to investigate the impact of gamma rays on the characteristics and behavior of a fabricated heterojunction device based on tetra pyridyl-porphine zinc (ZnTPyP). The importance of this study includes determining critical parameters such as conversion efficiency (η). A cobalt-60 gamma source has been employed to investigate the effects of gamma exposure dosages ranging from 0 to 5 kGy on the morphological and optical features of the studied material. An atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to examine the morphological characteristics of the ZnTPyP film that formed on the glass substrate. The thin film’s optical characteristics were investigated on quartz for both as-deposited and irradiated films at various gamma doses (1 kGy and 3 kGy). Additionally, ZnTPyP is evaporated on p-type silicon substrates to create ZnTPyP/p-Si heterojunction. The current–voltage (I–V) curves at various doses of gamma radiation at 0, 1, 3, and 5 kGy for Au/ ZnTPyP /p-Si/Ag heterojunction device are experimentally measured. The predominant conduction processes are the thermionic emission and single-trap space-charge-limited current (SCLC). Furthermore, the values of the barrier height φB\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\left( {\\varphi_{B} } \\right)$$\\end{document} are estimated using two different methods, including I–V method and Norde’s equations at different doses, and their values are comparable. Under illumination at 0 kGy, we found the values of short-circuit current (Isc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and photoconversion efficiency (η) to be 0.92 mA, 0.41 V, and 4.28%, respectively. On the hand, some important optical parameters are determined for both as-deposited and irradiated ZnTPyP films, such as skin depth (δ), and found that δ values reduce with increasing gamma doses, reflecting the efficiency and performance of photovoltaic cells. Finally, the study indicated the alteration in the studied optical parameters and slightly enhanced the Au/ZnTPyP/p-Si/Ag heterojunction efficiency when subjected to gamma radiation.

Modulating Dual Functionalities of Hydrazide Derivatives for Iodide Oxidation Suppression and Defect Passivation in Printable Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells

AbstractThe oxidation of iodide ions during annealing in air and rich defects generated at crystal terminations in perovskite are major limitations for achieving high photovoltaic performance in printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells (p‐MPSCs). Here, the dual role of hydrazide derivatives in inhibiting iodide oxidation and passivating crystal termination defects is reported and how the dual role is affected by the substituent is studied. It's found that varying the hydrazide derivative from formylhydrazine (FH) to benzhydrazide (BH) and then to 4‐tert‐butylbenzhydrazide (TBBH) by introducing phenyl and 4‐tert‐butylphenyl substituents enhances the electron donating ability of hydrazides due to substituent electronic effect. The tailored hydrazides present enhanced iodide oxidation suppression and defect passivation capabilities, which lowers the trap density of perovskite in p‐MPSCs significantly. As the most effective additive, TBBH improves the power conversion efficiency of the p‐MPSC from 18.66% to 20.30%, and the resulted device maintains 90% of its initial efficiency after 500 h tacking at maximum power point at 55 ± 5 °C under simulated 1 sun illumination.

Novel self-doping alcohol-soluble quinacridone-based small molecule at the cathode interface layer of organic solar cells

Interfacial modification plays a crucial part in improving the photovoltaic performance and stability of organic solar cells (OSCs). The self-doping effect can enhance the inter-ohmic contact at the active layer material with the cathode. Therefore, we synthesised a self-doping alcohol-soluble quinacridone-based small molecule, 5,12-bis(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-5,12-dihydroquinolo[2,3-b]acridine-7,14-dione (QAN), with a self-doping effect, and introduced QAN as cathode interfacial layers (CILs) into OSCs. The central nuclear structure of QAN is an electron-deficient unit with a large conjugated structure. This structure facilitates electron transport as a cathode-interface material. Additionally, its polar side chains enhance the solution-processing capability and contribute to a more pronounced self-doping effect. Compared with the devices without interfacial material, the open-circuit voltage(VOC) and short-circuit current (JSC) with QAN as an interfacial material increased. What's more, the optimal photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of the QAN CIL device is increased to 9.05 % for the same experimental conditions, which is 40 % higher than the device without interface material. By characterizing the surface morphology, it was found that the PTB7-Th:PC71BM active layer devices exhibited a smooth surface morphology and improved hydrophilicity when inserted with QAN CIL, which helps to enhance the physical contact of the active layer with the cathode, in addition to charge extraction and transport. This result suggests that introducing QAN as the CILs of the device is a viable way to improve the performance of the OSCs.

Assessment of the Impact of Direct Water Cooling and Cleaning System Operating Scenarios on PV Panel Performance

Among the various renewable energy-based technologies, photovoltaic panels are characterized by a high rate of development and application worldwide. Many efforts have been made to study innovative materials to improve the performance of photovoltaic cells. However, the most commonly used crystalline panels also have significant potential to enhance their energy yield by providing cooling and cleaning solutions. This paper discusses the possibility of introducing a dedicated direct-water cooling and cleaning system. As assumed, detailed schedules of the operation of the developed direct water cooling and cleaning system should be fitted to actual weather conditions. In this context, different cooling strategies were proposed and tested, including different intervals of opening and closing water flow. All tests were conducted using a dedicated experimental rig. 70 Wp monocrystalline panels were tested under laboratory conditions and 160 Wp polycrystalline panels were tested under real conditions. The results showed that introducing a scenario with a 1-min cooling and a 5-min break allowed for proving the panel’s surface temperature lower than 40 °C. In comparison, the temperature of the uncooled panel under the same operating conditions was close to 60 °C. Consequently, an increase in power generation was observed. The maximum power increase was observed in July and amounted to 15.3%. On the other hand, considering selected weeks in May, July, and September, the average increase in power generation was 3.63%, 7.48%, and 2.51%, respectively. It was concluded that the division of photovoltaic installation allows reasonable operating conditions for photovoltaic panels with a lower amount of energy consumed to power water pumps.

MXene-Embedded PEDOT:PSS Hole-Transport Material for Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cells.

Improving the energy alignment between charge-transport layers and the perovskite is crucial for further enhancing the photovoltaic performance of tin-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, the role of Ti3C2T x MXene in a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hole transport layer (HTL) on the photovoltaic properties of PSCs is investigated as a function of its concentration. An improved perovskite film formation with reduced pinhole density and a more uniform contact potential difference is noted when MXene is embedded in the PEDOT:PSS HTL. The work function of the HTL is increased according to photoelectronic measurements, leading to a favorable energy alignment with the HOMO of PEA0.2FA0.8SnI3 perovskite. PSCs fabricated using a MXene-embedded PEDOT:PSS HTL delivered a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.35% compared to 7.35% from the pristine counterpart, while retaining ∼90% of its initial PCE after 450 h of storage in a N2 atmosphere.