Pre-Anchored Ionic Bond Mediators Enabling Controllable Monolayer Assembly for High-Performance Perovskite Solar...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are crucial for high-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs).
• Wet deposition methods face challenges with SAM uniformity due to molecular self-aggregation and substrate anchoring.
• Controlling SAM formation is key to improving PSC performance and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid and controllable strategy for assembling high-quality SAMs on nickel oxide (NiO_x) substrates.
• To investigate the role of ionic bond mediators in overcoming SAM formation challenges.
• To enhance the efficiency and operational stability of perovskite solar cells.

Main Methods:

• Utilized pre-adsorbed arginine (Arg) molecules as ionic bond mediators on NiO_x surfaces.
• Employed ionic bond interactions and steric hindrance to control SAM assembly.
• Applied both spin-coating and blade-coating techniques for SAM deposition.
• Fabricated perovskite solar cells using the modified SAMs.

Main Results:

• Achieved rapid and controllable assembly of high-quality SAMs using the Arg-mediated strategy.
• Demonstrated significantly improved power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) up to 26.67% for small-area devices and 21.05% for large-area modules.
• Observed enhanced operational stability, retaining 93% of initial PCE after 1700 hours of testing.
• Showcased defect passivation and improved interfacial coupling at the perovskite layer.

Conclusions:

• The ionic bond mediator strategy effectively suppresses SAM self-aggregation and promotes uniform film formation.
• The Arg-mediated SAMs enhance interfacial properties, leading to higher efficiency and stability in PSCs.
• This method offers a viable pathway for scalable and high-performance perovskite solar cell fabrication.