The rapid reaction between lead iodide (PbI) and formamidinium iodide (FAI) complicates the fabrication of high-quality formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI) films. Conventional methods, such as using nonvolatile small molecular additives to slow the reaction, often result in buried interfacial voids and molecule diffusion, compromising the devices' operational stability. In this study, we introduced a molecular "thruster"-a hypervalent iodine (III) compound with three carbonyl groups and a C-I bond-that possesses coordination and dissociation abilities, enabling programed modulation of perovskite-film growth kinetics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFlexible perovskite solar cells (pero-SCs) have the potential to overturn the application scenario of silicon photovoltaic technology. However, their mechanical instability severely impedes their practical applicability, and the corresponding intrinsic degradation mechanism remains unclear. In this study, the degradation behavior of flexible pero-SCs is systematically analyzed under mechanical stress and it is observed that the structural failure first occurs in the polycrystal perovskite film, then extend to interfaces.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo date, perovskite solar cells (pero-SCs) with doped 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD) hole transporting layers (HTLs) have shown the highest recorded power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). However, their commercialization is still impeded by poor device stability owing to the hygroscopic lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide and volatile 4-tert-butylpyridine dopants as well as time-consuming oxidation in air. In this study, we explored a series of single-component iodonium initiators with strong oxidability and different electron delocalization properties to precisely manipulate the oxidation states of Spiro-OMeTAD without air assistance, and the oxidation mechanism was clearly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe use of dopant-free hole transport layers (HTLs) is critical in stabilizing n-i-p perovskite solar cells (pero-SCs). However, these HTL materials are often processed with toxic solvents, which is not ideal for industrial production. Upon substituting them with green solvents, a trade-off emerges between maintaining the high crystallinity of the HTL materials and ensuring high solubility in the new solvents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngew Chem Int Ed Engl
April 2023
The stability-related issues arising from the perovskite precursor inks, films, device structures and interdependence remain severely under-explored to date. Herein, we designed an ionic-liquid polymer (poly[Se-MI][BF ]), containing functional moieties like carbonyl (C=O), selenium (Se ), and tetrafluoroborate (BF ) ions, to stabilize the whole device fabrication process. The C=O and Se can coordinate with lead and iodine (I ) ions to stabilize lead polyhalide colloids and the compositions of the perovskite precursor inks for over two months.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFlexible perovskite solar cells (pero-SCs) are the best candidates to complement traditional silicon SCs in portable power applications. However, their mechanical, operational, and ambient stabilities are still unable to meet the practical demands because of the natural brittleness, residual tensile strain, and high defect density along the perovskite grain boundaries. To overcome these issues, a cross-linkable monomer TA-NI with dynamic covalent disulfide bonds, H-bonds, and ammonium is carefully developed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDopant-free organic hole transport materials (HTMs) remain highly desirable for stable and efficient n-i-p perovskite solar cells (pero-SCs) but rarely succeed. Here, we propose a molecular assembly strategy to overcome the limited optoelectronic properties of organic HTMs by precisely designing a linear organic small molecule BDT-DPA-F from the atomic to the molecular levels. BDT-DPA-F can assemble into a fibril network, showing an obviously improved hole mobility and decreased energy disorder.
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