Mechanochemistry Advances High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Commercialization of perovskite photovoltaics requires scalable, environmentally friendly synthesis methods.
• Developing high-purity precursors is crucial for efficient perovskite solar cell fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, green-solvent-assisted mechanochemical route for synthesizing stoichiometric δ-phase formamidinium lead iodide (δ-FAPbI₃) powder.
• To evaluate the suitability of the synthesized δ-FAPbI₃ as a precursor for high-performance perovskite solar cells.

Main Methods:

• Green-solvent-assisted mechanochemical synthesis of δ-FAPbI₃ powder.
• Characterization of precursor properties, including colloid concentration and size.
• Fabrication of perovskite films and solar cells, analyzing crystal orientation and carrier transport.
• Assessment of δ-FAPbI₃ powder storage stability.

Main Results:

• A fast and eco-friendly synthesis of high-purity δ-FAPbI₃ powder was achieved.
• The δ-FAPbI₃ precursor facilitated preferable crystallization and preferred (100) cubic plane orientation in perovskite films.
• Perovskite solar cells fabricated using this precursor achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency of 24.2%.
• The δ-FAPbI₃ powder demonstrated excellent storage stability exceeding 10 months under ambient conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed mechanochemical strategy offers a viable route for mass production of δ-FAPbI₃ precursors.
• The high-purity, stable precursor enables the fabrication of efficient and potentially commercializable perovskite solar cells.
• This advancement addresses key challenges in perovskite photovoltaic commercialization, including synthesis speed, cost, and material stability.