Haixia Rao

Solution-Processed CuS NPs as an Inorganic Hole-Selective Contact Material for Inverted Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have drawn worldwide intense research in recent years. Herein, we have first applied another p-type inorganic hole-selective contact material, CuS nanoparticles (CuS NPs), in an inverted planar heterojunction (PHJ) perovskite solar cell. The CuS NP-modification of indium tin oxide (ITO) has successfully tuned the surface work function from 4.9 to 5.1 eV but not affect the surface roughness and transmittance, which can effectively reduce the interfacial carrier injection barrier and facilitate high hole extraction efficiency between the perovskite and ITO layers. After optimization, the maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) has been over 16% with low J-V hysteresis and excellent stability. Therefore, the low-cost solution-processed and stable CuS NPs would be an alternative interfacial modification material for industrial production in perovskite solar cells.

A Strategy to Simplify the Preparation Process of Perovskite Solar Cells by Co‐deposition of a Hole‐Conductor and a Perovskite Layer

The feasibility of co-depositing a hole-conductor and a perovskite layer is demonstrated to simplify the preparation process of perovskite solar cells. The CuSCN incorporated in the perovskite layer can participate in forming the perovskite/CuSCN bulk-heterojunction and accelerate hole transport effectively, which eventually leads to a maximum power conversion efficiency of 18.1% with almost no J-V hysteresis.

Mixed‐Organic‐Cation Tin Iodide for Lead‐Free Perovskite Solar Cells with an Efficiency of 8.12%

Abstract In this work, a fully tin‐based, mixed‐organic‐cation perovskite absorber (FA)x(MA)1− xSnI3 (FA = NH2CH = NH2 +, MA = CH3NH3 +) for lead‐free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with inverted structure is presented. By optimizing the ratio of FA and MA cations, a maximum power conversion efficiency of 8.12% is achieved for the (FA)0.75(MA)0.25SnI3‐based device along with a high open‐circuit voltage of 0.61 V, which originates from improved perovskite film morphology and inhibits recombination process in the device. The cation‐mixing approach proves to be a facile method for the efficiency enhancement of tin‐based PSCs.

A Breakthrough Efficiency of 19.9% Obtained in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells by Using an Efficient Trap State Passivator Cu(thiourea)I

It is extremely significant to study the trap state passivation and minimize the trap states of perovskite to achieve high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, we have first revealed and demonstrated that a novel p-type conductor Cu(thiourea)I [Cu(Tu)I] incorporated in perovskite layer can effectively passivate the trap states of perovskite via interacting with the under-coordinated metal cations and halide anions at the perovskite crystal surface. The trap state energy level of perovskite can be shallowed from 0.35-0.45 eV to 0.25-0.35 eV. In addition, the incorporated Cu(Tu)I can participate in constructing the p-i bulk heterojunctions with perovskite, leading to an increase of the depletion width from 126 to 265 nm, which is advantageous for accelerating hole transport and reducing charge carrier recombination. For these two synergistic effects, Cu(Tu)I can play a much better role than that of the traditional p-type conductor CuI, probably due to its identical valence band maximum with that of perovskite, which enables to not only lower the trap state energy level to a greater extent but also eliminate the potential wells for holes at the p-i heterojunctions. After optimization, a breakthrough efficiency of 19.9% has been obtained in the inverted PSCs with Cu(Tu)I as the trap state passivator of perovskite.

Increasing open circuit voltage by adjusting work function of hole-transporting materials in perovskite solar cells

A series of conductive polymers, i.e., poly(3-methylthiophene) (PMT), poly(thiophene) (PT), poly(3-bromothiophene) (PBT) and poly(3-chlorothiophene) (PCT), were prepared via the electrochemical polymerization process. Subsequently, their application as hole-transporting materials (HTMs) in CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells was explored. It was found that rationally increasing the work function of HTMs proves beneficial in improving the open circuit voltage (Voc) of the devices with an ITO/conductive-polymer/CH3NH3PbI3/C60/BCP/Ag structure. In addition, the higher-Voc devices with a higher-work-function HTM exhibited higher recombination resistances. The highest open circuit voltage of 1.04 V was obtained from devices with PCT, with a work function of–5.4 eV, as the hole-transporting layer. Its power conversion efficiency attained a value of approximately 16.5%, with a high fill factor of 0.764, an appreciable open voltage of 1.01 V and a short circuit current density of 21.4 mA·cm–2. This simple, controllable and low-cost manner of preparing HTMs will be beneficial to the production of large-area perovskite solar cells with a hole-transporting layer.

Solution processed inorganic V2Ox as interfacial function materials for inverted planar-heterojunction perovskite solar cells with enhanced efficiency

An inverted planar heterojunction perovskite solar cell (PSC) is one of the most competitive photovoltaic devices exhibiting a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and nearly free hysteresis in the voltage–current output. However, the band alignment between the transport materials and the perovskite absorber has not been optimized, resulting in a lower open-circuit voltage (Voc) than that of regular PSCs. To address this issue, we tune the band alignment in perovskite photovoltaic architecture by introducing bilayer structured transport materials, e.g., the hole transport material poly(ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/V2O5. In this study, solution processed inorganic V2Ox interlayer is incorporated into PEDOT:PSS for achieving improved film surface properties as well as optical and electrical properties. For example, the work function (WF) was changed from 5.1 to 5.4 eV. A remarkably high PCE of 17.5% with nearly free hysteresis and a stabilized efficiency of 17.1% have been achieved. Electronic impedance spectra (EIS) demonstrate a significant increase in the recombination resistance after introducing the interlayer, associated with the high Voc output value of 1.05 V. Transient photocurrent and photovoltage measurements indicate that a comparable charge transport process and an inhibited recombination process occur in the PSC with the introduction of the V2Ox interlayer.

Room-temperature water-vapor annealing for high-performance planar perovskite solar cells

We report here the discovery of a unique room-temperature water-vapor annealing (WVA) method to fabricate high performance planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells (pero-SCs) based on CH3NH3PbI3. High crystallinity and void-free perovskite films were obtained by the WVA treatment at room temperature without thermal annealing (TA) and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the pero-SCs reached 16.4% with a high open circuit voltage (Voc) of 1 V. A mechanism is proposed that the water vapor molecules catalyzed the dissolution and re-crystallization of the perovskite at the grain edges and void area, resulting in void-free and large sized crystals in the perovskite films and the improved photovoltaic performance. This WVA approach provides a simple, high-efficiency and energy conservation processing method in the fabrication of planar perovskite solar cells towards commercialization.

Simplification of device structures for low-cost, high-efficiency perovskite solar cells

Organo-metal halide perovskite solar cells have shown great potential for application in photovoltaics with their high power conversion efficiency. For the future commercialisation of perovskite solar cells, it is crucial to simplify their device structures while maintaining their efficiency. In this review, we discuss the recent progress in the simplification of device structures for low-cost, high-efficiency perovskite solar cells after briefly reviewing the evolution of the device structures of perovskite solar cells.