Lanthanide 3D Supramolecular Framework Boosts Stable Perovskite Solar Cells with High UV Utilization

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photovoltaics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising for renewable energy but can degrade under UV irradiation.
• UV light can cause performance loss and degradation in conventional PSCs.
• Energy downconversion is a strategy to utilize high-energy photons and improve solar cell performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) under UV irradiation.
• To investigate the use of lanthanide-organic frameworks (Tb-cpon) for energy downconversion in PSCs.
• To explore the effects of Tb-cpon modification on PSC crystallinity and defect concentration.

Main Methods:

• Modification of PSCs with lanthanide-organic frameworks (Tb-cpon).
• Exploitation of ligand-to-metal charge transfer and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) processes.
• Characterization of precursor particle sizes and film crystallinity.
• Performance testing of modified PSCs under UV and solar irradiation, including stability tests.

Main Results:

• Tb-cpon-modified PSCs demonstrated enhanced performance and rapid response under UV irradiation.
• Energy downconversion by Tb-cpon effectively coupled UV-sensitive chromophores to lanthanide luminescent centers.
• Modified PSCs achieved a champion efficiency of 23.72% and maintained over 80% of initial efficiency after 24h UV irradiation, compared to 21% for control devices.

Conclusions:

• Lanthanide-organic framework (Tb-cpon) modification is an effective strategy to improve PSC performance and UV stability.
• The energy downconversion mechanism via FRET in Tb-cpon enhances spectral response and reduces PSC degradation.
• Tb-cpon incorporation leads to improved crystallinity and reduced defect concentration in the perovskite hybrid film.