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Regulating surface potential maximizes voltage in all-perovskite tandems
Hao Chen1, Aidan Maxwell1, Chongwen Li1,2
1The Edward S. Rogers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Nature
|November 15, 2022
Summary
New diammonium molecules reduce voltage loss in wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells. This breakthrough enhances power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability for perovskite solar cells and tandem devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Photovoltaics
Background:
- Wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells exhibit a significant open-circuit voltage (VOC) deficit compared to their narrower bandgap counterparts.
- This deficit is primarily attributed to VOC-limiting recombination at the electron-transport-layer contact, caused by surface potential inhomogeneity and poor energetic alignment.
- Existing monoammonium surface treatments are insufficient to resolve these issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and mitigate the open-circuit voltage (VOC) deficit in wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells.
- To improve the energetic alignment and surface potential uniformity at the perovskite-electron transport layer interface.
- To enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability of perovskite solar cells and tandem devices.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of diammonium molecules, specifically 1,3-propane diammonium, to modify perovskite surface states.
- Modification of surface states to achieve a more uniform spatial distribution of surface potential.
- Fabrication and characterization of single-junction perovskite solar cells and monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells.
Main Results:
- Diammonium treatment increased quasi-Fermi-level splitting by 90 meV.
- Achieved 1.79 eV perovskite solar cells with a certified 1.33 V VOC and over 19% PCE.
- Developed monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells with a record VOC of 2.19 V (89% of detailed balance limit) and over 27% PCE (26.3% certified).
- Tandem devices retained over 86% of initial PCE after 500 hours of operation.
Conclusions:
- Diammonium molecules effectively passivate perovskite surface states and improve energetic alignment, significantly reducing the VOC deficit.
- The developed surface treatment enables high-performance, stable wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells and tandem devices.
- This advancement represents a key step towards realizing the full potential of perovskite photovoltaics for efficient solar energy conversion.
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