Stabilizing Precursor Solutions by Proton-Rich Additive for High-Performance Air-Processed Solar Cells

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Perovskite precursor solutions degrade under ambient conditions due to humidity and oxidation, hindering commercialization.
• Deprotonation of hybrid organic cations (methylammonium and formamidinium) is a key factor in solution ageing and perovskite phase impurities.
• Existing methods struggle to maintain perovskite precursor stability for scalable manufacturing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a stabilization strategy for perovskite precursor solutions against ambient degradation.
• To mitigate the deprotonation of organic cations and prevent impurity formation.
• To enhance the efficiency and long-term stability of perovskite solar cells.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a proton-rich additive, 4-(aminomethyl)pyridine 2-iodide, to inhibit cation deprotonation in precursor solutions.
• Investigated the synergistic effects of H+ and I- on perovskite film formation and stability.
• Fabricated and characterized perovskite solar cells using the stabilized precursor solutions.

Main Results:

• The additive successfully inhibited MA+ deprotonation, preventing condensation products during storage.
• Perovskite films exhibited a pure phase, free from abnormal aggregate crystals, due to the additive's synergistic effects.
• Treated perovskite solar cells achieved a power conversion efficiency of 25.25% with remarkable long-term stability.

Conclusions:

• The proton-rich additive effectively stabilizes perovskite precursor solutions under ambient conditions.
• This strategy significantly enhances perovskite solar cell efficiency and operational lifetime.
• The findings present a viable approach for the commercialization of perovskite solar technology.