MDACl₂-Modified SnO₂ Film for Efficient Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

The electron transport layer (ETL) with excellent charge extraction and transport ability is one of the key components of high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). SnO₂ has been considered as a more promising ETL for the future commercialization of PSCs due to its excellent photoelectric properties and easy processing. Herein, we propose a facile and effective ETL modification strategy based on the incorporation of methylenediammonium dichloride (MDACl₂) into the SnO₂ precursor colloidal solution. The effects of MDACl₂ incorporation on charge transport, defect passivation, perovskite crystallization, and PSC performance are systematically investigated. First, the surface defects of the SnO₂ film are effectively passivated, resulting in the increased conductivity of the SnO₂ film, which is conducive to electron extraction and transport. Second, the MDACl₂ modification contributes to the formation of high-quality perovskite films with improved crystallinity and reduced defect density. Furthermore, a more suitable energy level alignment is achieved at the ETL/perovskite interface, which facilitates the charge transport due to the lower energy barrier. Consequently, the MDACl₂-modified PSCs exhibit a champion efficiency of 22.30% compared with 19.62% of the control device, and the device stability is also significantly improved.