Journal Article

Synergistic Interface Energy Band Alignment Optimization and Defect Passivation toward Efficient and Simple‐Structured Perovskite Solar Cell

Bu, Shixiao, Huang, Like, Ge, Ziyi, Zhang, Danli, Peng, Ruixiang, Wei, Qiang

2020

Overview

Efficient electron transport layer–free perovskite solar cells (ETL‐free PSCs) with cost‐effective and simplified design can greatly promote the large area flexible application of PSCs. However, the absence of ETL usually leads to the mismatched indium tin oxide (ITO)/perovskite interface energy levels, which limits charge transfer and collection, and results in severe energy loss and poor device performance. To address this, a polar nonconjugated small‐molecule modifier is introduced to lower the work function of ITO and optimize interface energy level alignment by virtue of an inherent dipole, as verified by photoemission spectroscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements. The resultant barrier‐free ITO/perovskite contact favors efficient charge transfer and suppresses nonradiative recombination, endowing the device with enhanced open circuit voltage, short circuit current density, and fill factor, simultaneously. Accordingly, power conversion efficiency increases greatly from 12.81% to a record breaking 20.55%, comparable to state‐of‐the‐art PSCs with a sophisticated ETL. Also, the stability is enhanced with decreased hysteresis effect due to interface defect passivation and inhibited interface charge accumulation. This work facilitates the further development of highly efficient, flexible, and recyclable ETL‐free PSCs with simplified design and low cost by interface electronic structure engineering through facile electrode modification. A polar nonconjugated small molecule ultrathin layer with an intrinsic dipole moment is introduced to modify the work function of indium tin oxide and to optimize the front interface energy level alignment, which contributes to suppressed energy loss and results in a 20.55% efficient electron transport layer–free perovskite solar cell with enhanced open‐circuit voltage short circuit current density and fill factor, simultaneously.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Efficiency / Electrodes / electron transport layers / Energy / energy level alignment / Interfaces / nonconjugated small molecules / Optimization / perovskite solar cells / Scanning electron microscopy / Spectrum analysis / work function