Solution-processed Perovskite Solar Cells Research Articles

Solar-Powered Ambipolar Electrochromic Polyimidothioethers Via Perovskite Photovoltaics

In this work, we demonstrate for the first time the novel electrochromic devices based on a series of ambipolar polyimidothioethers (PITEs) driven by state-of-the-art solution-processed perovskite solar cells. These devices with high color contrast and fast response time can have a low operating voltage, less than one volt. The electrochromic PITEs were prepared from new triphenylamine-based bismaleimides and commercial dithiols via Michael polyaddition. These polymers were readily soluble in various organic solvents and showed thermal stability associated with high glass-transition temperatures. The perovskite solar cell developed in our lab has a power conversion efficiency greater than 15% and open circuit voltage of 0.8-0.9 V, rivals the efficiency and cost of silicon solar cells in converting sunlight to electricity. Combined the innovative developments of both perovskite photovoltaics and ambipolar electrochromic materials, we have achieved a novel design of smart materials devices with strong commercial implications.

Solar cells. High-efficiency solution-processed perovskite solar cells with millimeter-scale grains.

State-of-the-art photovoltaics use high-purity, large-area, wafer-scale single-crystalline semiconductors grown by sophisticated, high-temperature crystal growth processes. We demonstrate a solution-based hot-casting technique to grow continuous, pinhole-free thin films of organometallic perovskites with millimeter-scale crystalline grains. We fabricated planar solar cells with efficiencies approaching 18%, with little cell-to-cell variability. The devices show hysteresis-free photovoltaic response, which had been a fundamental bottleneck for the stable operation of perovskite devices. Characterization and modeling attribute the improved performance to reduced bulk defects and improved charge carrier mobility in large-grain devices. We anticipate that this technique will lead the field toward synthesis of wafer-scale crystalline perovskites, necessary for the fabrication of high-efficiency solar cells, and will be applicable to several other material systems plagued by polydispersity, defects, and grain boundary recombination in solution-processed thin films.

Inverted perovskite solar cells with inserted cross-linked electron-blocking interlayers for performance enhancement

Cross-linked anode interlayers (X-QUPD or X-OTPD) with solvent-resistance provide electron blocking to reduce electron–hole recombination for improving PCE of invert type solution processed perovskite solar cells.

Air-processed, efficient CH3NH3PbI3−xClx perovskite solar cells with organic polymer PTB7 as a hole-transport layer

Solution-processed perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which utilized organic poly PTB7 as a hole-transport layer, achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) as high as 13.29% when fabricated in ambient air.

The impact of precursor water content on solution-processed organometal halide perovskite films and solar cells

In this paper, the impact of the water content (up to 10 vol%) in DMF-based precursors on organometal halide perovskites is investigated. The photovoltaic performance is found not to be affected, thus relaxing the conditions for large-scale production of this upcoming photovoltaic technology.

Recent advances in planar heterojunction organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells

The development of highly efficient and low-cost solar cells is the key to large-scale application of solar photovoltaic technology. In recent years, the solution-processed organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells attracted considerable attention because of their advantages of high energy conversion efficiency, low cost, and ease of processing. The ambipolar semiconducting characteristic of perovskite enables the construction of planar heterojunction architecture to be possible in perovskite-based solar cells. This kind of architecture avoids the use of mesoporous metal oxide film, which simplifies the processing route and makes it easier to fabricate flexible and tandem perovskite-based solar cells. Planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells can be divided into n-i-p type and p-i-n type according to the charge flow direction. Two interfaces are formed between perovskite film and hole/electron transport layer, where efficient charge separation can be realized. Hole and electron transport layers can form separated continuous paths for the transport of holes and electrons, thus beneficial to improving exciton separation, charge transportation, and collection efficiency. In addition, this planar architecture avoids the use of high temperature sintered mesoporous metal oxide framework; this is beneficial to expanding the choice of the charge transport materials. In this paper, we review the recent progress on the planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. First, we introduce the material properties of perovskite, the evolution of device architecture, and the working principle of p-i-n type and n-i-p type planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. Then, we review the recent progress and optimization of planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells from every aspect of perovskite preparation and the selection of electron/hole transport materials. Finally, we would like to give a perspective view on and address the concerns about perovskite solar cells.

Effects of 4-tert-butylpyridine on perovskite formation and performance of solution-processed perovskite solar cells

The facile use of TBP generated notable improvements on perovskite crystallinity and photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells.

Optical Description of Mesostructured Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskite Solar Cells.

Herein we describe both theoretically and experimentally the optical response of solution-processed organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells based on mesostructured scaffolds. We develop a rigorous theoretical model using a method based on the propagation of waves in layered media, which allows visualizing the way in which light is spatially distributed across the device and serves to quantify the fraction of light absorbed by each medium comprising the cell. The discrimination between productive and parasitic absorption yields an accurate determination of the internal quantum efficiency. State-of-the-art devices integrating mesoporous scaffolds infiltrated with perovskite are manufactured and characterized to support the calculations. This combined experimental and theoretical analysis provides a rational understanding of the optical behavior of perovskite cells and can be beneficial for the judicious design of devices with improved performance. Notably, our model justifies the presence of a solid perovskite capping layer in all of the highest efficiency perovskite solar cells based on thinner mesoporous scaffolds.

Double-layered ZnO nanostructures for efficient perovskite solar cells.

To date, a single layer of TiO2 or ZnO has been the most successful implementations of any electron transport layer (ETL) in solution-processed perovskite solar cells. In a quest to improve the ETL, we explore a new nanostructured double-layer ZnO film for mesoscopic perovskite-based thin film photovoltaics. This approach yields a maximum power conversion efficiency of 10.35%, which we attribute to the morphology of oxide layer and to faster electron transport. The successful implementation of the low-temperature hydrothermally processed double-layer ZnO film as ETL in perovskite solar cells highlights the opportunities to further improve the efficiencies by focusing on the ETL in this rapidly developing field.

Performance enhancement of solution processed perovskite solar cells incorporating functionalized silica nanoparticles

High efficiency, solution processed organic–inorganic trihalide perovskite solar cells are now a reality, meaning that perovskite photovoltaics have the potential to challenge more established photovoltaic technologies. To date, some of the most efficient solution processed perovskite solar cells feature a pre-deposited Al2O3 scaffold and we have shown in a previous communication, that it is possible to make efficient devices by co-depositing the Al2O3 nanoparticles with the perovskite precursor solution. In this work, we have substituted the alumina nanoparticles with 3-aminopropyl (3-oxobutanoic acid) functionalized silica nanoparticles (f-SiO2). We observe performance enhancements in planar heterojunction (PHJ) devices made with up to 0.75 wt% f-SiO2 nanoparticles present in the precursor solution, yielding power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of up to 12.4%, compared to the maximum PCE of 10.5% in the equivalent PHJ devices made without f-SiO2 nanoparticles. The performance enhancement arises in part from an average increase to VOC by up to 50 mV when the nanoparticles are present in the precursor solution and is attributed to substrate passivation within pinholes formed in the perovskite film during processing.

Electronic properties of meso-superstructured and planar organometal halide perovskite films: charge trapping, photodoping, and carrier mobility.

Solution-processed organometal trihalide perovskite solar cells are attracting increasing interest, leading to high performances over 15% in thin film architectures. Here, we probe the presence of sub gap states in both solid and mesosuperstructured perovskite films and determine that they strongly influence the photoconductivity response and splitting of the quasi-Fermi levels in films and solar cells. We find that while the planar perovskite films are superior to the mesosuperstructured films in terms of charge carrier mobility (in excess of 20 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)) and emissivity, the planar heterojunction solar cells are limited in photovoltage by the presence of sub gap states and low intrinsic doping densities.

Recombination Study of Combined Halides (Cl, Br, I) Perovskite Solar Cells.

We report on the preparation of a series of solution-processed perovskite solar cells based on methylammonium (MA) lead halide derivatives, MAPbX3, which show tunable optical properties depending on the nature and ratio of the halides employed (X = Cl, Br, and I). Devices have been prepared with different cell architecture, thin film, and mesoporous scaffold (TiO2 and Al2O3). We have analyzed different sample sets focusing on the characterization of the charge recombination by means of impedance spectroscopy (IS). On the one hand, our study discloses that the insertion of both Cl and Br in the perovskite lattice reduces the charge recombination rates in the light absorber film, thus determining the open circuit voltage (Voc) of the device. The samples prepared on a mesoporous Al2O3 electrode present lower charge recombination rates than those devices prepared on mesoporous TiO2. Furthermore, the addition of Br in the perovskite structure was demonstrated to improve slightly the lifetime of the devices; in fact, the efficiencies of all devices tested remained at least at the 80% of the initial value 1 month after their preparation. These results highlight the crucial role of the charge-recombination processes on the performance of the perovskite solar cells and pave the way for further progress on this field.

Low-Temperature Solution-Processed Perovskite Solar Cells with High Efficiency and Flexibility

Perovskite compounds have attracted recently great attention in photovoltaic research. The devices are typically fabricated using condensed or mesoporous TiO2 as the electron transport layer and 2,2'7,7'-tetrakis-(N,N-dip-methoxyphenylamine)9,9'-spirobifluorene as the hole transport layer. However, the high-temperature processing (450 °C) requirement of the TiO2 layer could hinder the widespread adoption of the technology. In this report, we adopted a low-temperature processing technique to attain high-efficiency devices in both rigid and flexible substrates, using device structure substrate/ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CH(3)NH(3)PbI(3-x)Cl(x)/PCBM/Al, where PEDOT:PSS and PCBM are used as hole and electron transport layers, respectively. Mixed halide perovskite, CH(3)NH(3)PbI(3-x)Cl(x), was used due to its long carrier lifetime and good electrical properties. All of these layers are solution-processed under 120 °C. Based on the proposed device structure, power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.5% is obtained in rigid substrates (glass/ITO), and a 9.2% PCE is achieved for a polyethylene terephthalate/ITO flexible substrate.

Morphological Control for High Performance, Solution‐Processed Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells

Organometal trihalide perovskite based solar cells have exhibited the highest efficiencies to‐date when incorporated into mesostructured composites. However, thin solid films of a perovskite absorber should be capable of operating at the highest efficiency in a simple planar heterojunction configuration. Here, it is shown that film morphology is a critical issue in planar heterojunction CH3NH3PbI3‐xClx solar cells. The morphology is carefully controlled by varying processing conditions, and it is demonstrated that the highest photocurrents are attainable only with the highest perovskite surface coverages. With optimized solution based film formation, power conversion efficiencies of up to 11.4% are achieved, the first report of efficiencies above 10% in fully thin‐film solution processed perovskite solar cells with no mesoporous layer.