Targeted Therapy for Interfacial Engineering Toward Stable and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Photovoltaics

Background:

• Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (pero-SCs) face commercialization hurdles due to poor long-term stability.
• Existing strategies like encapsulation and doping have limitations in addressing water and thermal stability.
• A deeper understanding of stability mechanisms is crucial for advancing pero-SC technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and evaluate a novel fullerene derivative, PCBB-S-N, as an electron transporting layer (ETL) or intermediary layer in planar p-i-n pero-SCs.
• To investigate the ability of PCBB-S-N to heal multitype defects and improve the growth of ETLs.
• To assess the impact of PCBB-S-N on the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of pero-SCs under moisture and thermal stress.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a new fullerene derivative, PCBB-S-N, incorporating a functional sulfur atom and C60.
• Employment of PCBB-S-N as an ETL/intermediary layer in planar p-i-n pero-SCs.
• Systematic investigation of the underlying mechanism using experimental techniques and theoretical calculations.

Main Results:

• Repaired pero-SCs exhibited significantly improved power conversion efficiencies.
• PCBB-S-N effectively addressed stability issues, enhancing resistance to moisture and high temperatures.
• The fullerene derivative demonstrated a targeted defect healing effect within the device structure.

Conclusions:

• The novel fullerene derivative PCBB-S-N shows promise as a viable ETL or intermediary layer for stable and efficient planar p-i-n pero-SCs.
• Finely tuned chemical structures in fullerene derivatives can overcome critical stability challenges in perovskite solar cells.
• This research paves the way for more robust and commercially viable pero-SC technologies.