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Updated: Jan 14, 2026
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Influence of Hybrid Perovskite Fabrication Methods on Film Formation, Electronic Structure, and Solar Cell Performance
Published on: February 27, 2017
19.0K
Intermediate phase evolution for stable and oriented evaporated wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells
Zijing Dong1,2, Jingcong Hu1,3, Xiao Guo1,2
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Nature Materials
|October 22, 2025
Summary
Stabilizing wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells using a CsI2Br intermediate phase improves crystal growth and significantly enhances operational stability under demanding conditions. This breakthrough promises more durable and efficient next-generation photovoltaics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Solid-State Physics
Background:
- Wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells offer high efficiencies for next-generation photovoltaics.
- Commercialization is limited by the poor operational stability of these perovskites, especially under thermal stress during maximum power point tracking.
- Developing stable wide-bandgap perovskites is crucial for advancing solar energy technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To stabilize ~1.7-eV wide-bandgap perovskites for improved solar cell performance and longevity.
- To investigate the mechanism of stabilization through intermediate phase evolution and guided crystal growth.
- To demonstrate enhanced thermal and operational stability in perovskite solar cells.
Main Methods:
- Formation of a cesium iodide dibromide (CsI2Br) intermediate phase during thin-film deposition.
- Utilizing atomic-scale scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to analyze crystal structure and growth.
- Fabricating and testing perovskite solar cells under various thermal and operational stress conditions, including maximum power point tracking.
Main Results:
- The CsI2Br intermediate phase directs oriented polycrystalline film growth with unique texturing.
- Atomic-scale analysis revealed coherent {100} growth guided by the CsI2Br (123) facet.
- Achieved a 2-order-magnitude increase in (100) diffraction intensity and improved crystallinity.
- Solar cells demonstrated remarkable stability, retaining performance over 3,000 hours at room temperature and 500 hours at 110°C under maximum power point tracking.
- Power conversion efficiency reached 21.37% with a fill factor exceeding 84%.
Conclusions:
- Intermediate phase evolution offers a viable strategy for stabilizing wide-bandgap perovskites.
- The self-guided crystal-growth mode significantly enhances film crystallinity and solar cell stability.
- This approach provides a promising pathway toward realizing stable, high-efficiency tandem perovskite solar cells with projected lifetimes of ~70,000 hours.
