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High-performance, stable and low-cost mesoscopic perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene)-modified carbon nanotube cathodes

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Abstract

This work explores the use of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs@P3HT) for the cathodes of hole transporter free, mesoscopic perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) solar cells (PSCs), simultaneously achieving high-performance, high stability and low-cost PSCs. Here the thin P3HT modifier acts as an electron blocker to inhibit electron transfer into CNTs and a hydrophobic polymer binder to tightly cross-link the CNTs together to compact the carbon electrode film and greatly stabilize the solar cell. On the other hand, the presence of CNTs greatly improve the conductivity of P3HT. By optimizing the concentration of the P3HT modifier (2 mg/mL), we have improved the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of CNTs@P3HT based PSCs up to 13.43% with an average efficiency of 12.54%, which is much higher than the pure CNTs based PSCs (best PCE 10.59%) and the sandwich-type P3HT/CNTs based PSCs (best PCE 9.50%). In addition, the hysteresis of the CNTs@P3HT based PSCs is remarkably reduced due to the intimate interface between the perovskite and CNTs@P3HT electrodes. Degradation of the CNTs@ P3HT based PSCs is also strongly retarded as compared to cells employing the pure CNTs electrode when exposed to the ambient condition of 20%–40% humidity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    Xiaoli Zheng, Haining Chen, Zhanhua Wei, Yinglong Yang, He Lin & Shihe Yang

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  1. Xiaoli Zheng
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  2. Haining Chen
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  3. Zhanhua Wei
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  4. Yinglong Yang
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  5. He Lin
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Correspondence to Shihe Yang.

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Xiaoli Zheng obtained her M.S. degree in 2012 from Zhengzhou University. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Prof. Shihe Yang’s group in Department of Chemistry of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Her current research focuses on synthesis of nanomaterials and their applications in perovskite solar cells.

Haining Chen received his Ph.D. degree (2013) in School of Materials Science and Engineering from Beihang University. He is currently a postdoctor in Prof. Shihe Yang’s group in Department of Chemistry of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His current research focuses on perovskite solar cells and photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Zhanhua Wei obtained his B.S. degree in 2011 from Xiamen University. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 2015 in Prof. Shihe Yang’s group in Department of Chemistry of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His current research focuses on perovskite solar cells and dyesensitized solar cells.

Yinglong Yang acquired his B.S. degree in 2013 from University of Science and Technology of China. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Prof. Shihe Yang’s group in Department of Chemistry of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His current research focuses on carbon based perovskite solar cells.

He Lin received his B.S. degree (2015) in College of Chemistry and Life Science from Zhejiang Normal University. He is currently a research assistant in Prof. Shihe Yang’s group in Department of Chemistry of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His current research focuses on hydrogen fuel generation by photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting.

Shihe Yang received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Sun Yat-Sen University and Ph.D. degree in Physical Chemistry (with Prof. Richard E. Smalley). He did his post-doctoral research at Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Toronto (with Prof. John C. Polanyi) before joining the faculty at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where he is currently a full Professor. His current research interests include the understanding, manipulation and applications of low- dimensional nanosystems and energy materials, particularly in novel solar cells and solar fuel devices.

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Zheng, X., Chen, H., Wei, Z. et al. High-performance, stable and low-cost mesoscopic perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene)-modified carbon nanotube cathodes. Front. Optoelectron. 9, 71–80 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-016-0566-7

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