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Photo-stable perovskite solar cells with reduced interfacial recombination losses using a CeOx interlayer

基于CeOx修饰层降低界面复合损耗的光稳定钙钛矿太阳电池

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Abstract

Despite demonstrating remarkable power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have not yet achieved their full potential. In particular, the interfaces between the perovskite and charge transport layers account for the vast majority of the recombination losses. Interfacial contact and band alignment between the low-temperature-processed TiO2 electron transport layer (ETL) and the perovskite are essential to minimize nonradiative recombination losses. In this study, a CeOx interlayer is employed to modify the perovskite/TiO2 interface, and the charge transport properties of the devices are investigated. The bilayer-structured TiO2/CeOx ETL leads to the modification of the interface energetics, resulting in improved electron extraction and reduced nonradiative recombination in the PSCs. Devices based on TiO2/CeOx ETL exhibit a high open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.13 V and an enhanced PCE of more than 20% as compared with Voc of 1.08 V and a PCE of approximately 18% for TiO2-based devices. Moreover, PSCs based on TiO2/CeOx ETL maintain over 88% of their initial PCEs after light illumination for 300 min, whereas PSCs based on TiO2 ETL almost failed. This study provides an efficient strategy to enhance the PCE and stability of PSCs based on a low-temperature-processed TiO2 ETL.

摘要

尽管已经获得了很高的能量转换效率, 但由于非辐射复合损失, 钙钛矿太阳电池的潜力仍未完全释放. 钙钛矿层和电荷传输层之间的界面是发生复合损耗最多的地方. 对于低温制备的TiO2电子传输层, 其与钙钛矿层之间的界面接触和能带对准对于非辐射复合损耗的减少来说至关重要. 在这项研究中, 我们利用CeOx中间层修饰钙钛矿/TiO2界面, 并研究了器件的电荷传输性能. 双层结构的TiO2/CeOx电子传输层改善了界面接触和能级匹配, 提高了电子转移, 抑制了界面复合. 基于TiO2/CeOx电子传输层的器件表现出1.13 V的高开路电压和超过20%的光电转换效率, 而基于TiO2电子传输层器件的开路电压仅为1.08 V, 转换效率约为18%. 此外, 基于TiO2/CeOx电子传输层的钙钛矿器件在300 min光照后仍能保持初始效率的88%, 而基于TiO2电子传输层的器件几乎失效. 这项研究为基于低温TiO2电子传输层的钙钛矿太阳电池提供了一种增强转换效率和光稳定性的有效策略.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFB1500101), the 111 Project (B16016), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1705256, 51702096 and 61904053), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2019MS026, 2019MS027 and 2020MS080).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Novel Thin-Film Solar Cells, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China

    Xiaoqiang Shi  (时小强), Ye Tao  (陶冶), Zhuoxin Li  (李卓芯), Huirong Peng  (彭会荣), Molang Cai  (蔡墨朗), Xuepeng Liu  (刘雪朋), Zhongyan Zhang  (张中艳) & Songyuan Dai  (戴松元)

  2. State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China

    Molang Cai  (蔡墨朗) & Songyuan Dai  (戴松元)

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  1. Xiaoqiang Shi  (时小强)
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  2. Ye Tao  (陶冶)
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  3. Zhuoxin Li  (李卓芯)
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  4. Huirong Peng  (彭会荣)
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  5. Molang Cai  (蔡墨朗)
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  6. Xuepeng Liu  (刘雪朋)
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  7. Zhongyan Zhang  (张中艳)
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  8. Songyuan Dai  (戴松元)
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Contributions

Author contributions Dai S and Cai M supervised the project. Shi X conceived the original concept, designed the experiments, and wrote the manuscript. Shi X, Tao Y, and Li Z fabricated the devices and conducted the characterization and analysis with support from Peng H. Zhang Z provided helpful discussion during the revision process. Cai M and Liu X revised the manuscript, and all authors contributed to the general discussion.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Molang Cai  (蔡墨朗) or Songyuan Dai  (戴松元).

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Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Xiaoqiang Shi obtained his BS and PhD degrees from North China Electric Power University in 2015 and 2020, respectively. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University. His research interests include perovskite solar cells and antimony chalcogenide solar cells.

Molang Cai obtained her PhD degree from the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2013. From 2013 to 2018, she successively worked as postdoctoral researcher at Queensland University of Technology and the National Institute of Materials Science, studying on efficient perovskite solar cells. In 2018, she joined North China Electric Power University as a professor. Her research interests mainly focus on efficient perovskite solar cells and in-situ measurement of photovoltaic materials and devices.

Songyuan Dai obtained his BS degree from Anhui Normal University in 1987, and MS and PhD degrees from the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1991 and 2001, respectively. In 2012, he joined North China Electric Power University as a full professor. His research interests include dye-sensitized solar cells, quantum-dot solar cells and perovskite solar cells.

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Shi, X., Tao, Y., Li, Z. et al. Photo-stable perovskite solar cells with reduced interfacial recombination losses using a CeOx interlayer. Sci. China Mater. 64, 1858–1867 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-020-1625-2

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