Plasma-Based Modification of Tin Halide Perovskite Interfaces for Photovoltaic Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photovoltaics
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Tin halide perovskites are promising lead-free alternatives for sustainable solar cells.
• Oxidation of tin (II) is a major drawback, limiting material stability and device lifetime.
• Developing effective stabilization strategies is crucial for advancing tin perovskite photovoltaics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of plasma processing as a non-invasive surface treatment for tin halide perovskite films.
• To determine if plasma treatment can mitigate the oxidation of tin (II) and improve material aging characteristics.
• To evaluate the impact of plasma treatment on the performance and stability of tin perovskite solar devices.

Main Methods:

• Surface treatment of tin perovskite films using plasma processing.
• Chemical, optical, and morphological analyses to characterize the treated films.
• Fabrication and testing of plasma-treated and reference solar devices for performance and stability assessment.

Main Results:

• Plasma treatment generates transient active species that inhibit tin (II) oxidation on the perovskite surface.
• Chemical, optical, and morphological analyses confirm improved material stability post-treatment.
• Plasma-treated devices exhibited slightly higher and more consistent power conversion efficiencies compared to untreated devices after storage.

Conclusions:

• Plasma processing is an effective and non-invasive method for enhancing the stability of tin halide perovskites.
• This technique addresses the critical issue of tin oxidation, improving device longevity and performance.
• The facile implementation of plasma treatment in large-area manufacturing supports the advancement of lead-free perovskite solar technology.