Overcoming microstructural defects at the buried interface of formamidinium-based perovskite solar cells
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Since the advent of formamidinium (FA)-based perovskite photovoltaics (PVs), significant performance enhancements have been achieved. However, a critical challenge persists: the propensity for void formation in the perovskite film at the buried perovskite-interlayer interface has a deleterious effect on device performance. With most emerging perovskite PVs adopting the p-i-n architecture, the specific challenge lies at the perovskite-hole transport layer (HTL) interface, with previous strategies to overcome this limitation being limited to specific perovskite-HTL combinations; thus, the lack of universal approaches represents a bottleneck. Here, we present a novel strategy that overcomes the formation of such voids (microstructural defects) through a film treatment with methylammonium chloride (MACl). Specifically, our work introduces MACl via a sequential deposition method, having a profound impact on the microstructural defect density at the critical buried interface. Our technique is independent of both the HTL and the perovskite film thickness, highlighting the universal nature of this approach. By employing device photoluminescence measurements and conductive atomic force microscopy, we reveal that when present, such voids impede charge extraction, thereby diminishing device short-circuit current. Through comprehensive steady-state and transient photoluminescence spectroscopy analysis, we demonstrate that by implementing our MACl treatment to remedy these voids, devices with reduced defect states, suppressed nonradiative recombination, and extended carrier lifetimes of up to 2.3 μs can be prepared. Furthermore, our novel treatment reduces the stringent constraints around antisolvent choice and dripping time, significantly extending the processing window for the perovskite absorber layer and offering significantly greater flexibility for device fabrication.
Date Issued
2024-09-11
Date Acceptance
2024-08-21
Citation
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2024, 16 (36), pp.47763-47772
ISSN
1944-8244
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
47763
End Page
47772
Journal / Book Title
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume
16
Issue
36
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. This publication is licensed under
CC-BY 4.0.
CC-BY 4.0.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39188091
Subjects
buried interface
charge extraction
device photoluminescence
methylammonium chloride
microstructural defects
perovskite solar cells
wide processing window
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2024-08-26