Lithium Polystyrene Sulfonate as a Hole Transport Material in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Despite the exceptional efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), further improvements can be made to bring their power conversion efficiencies (PCE) closer to the Shockley-Queisser limit, while the development of cost-effective strategies to produce high-performance devices are needed for them to reach their potential as a widespread energy source. In this context, there is a need to improve existing charge transport layers (CTLs) or introduce new CTLs. In this contribution, we introduced a new polyelectrolyte (lithium poly(styrene sulfonate (PSS))) (Li:PSS) polyelectrolyte as an HTL in inverted PSCs, where Li⁺ can act as a counter ion for the PSS backbone. The negative charge on the PSS backbone can stabilize the presence of p-type carriers and p-doping at the anode. Simple Li:PSS performed poorly due to poor surface coverage and voids existence in perovskite film as well as low conductivity. PEDOT:PSS was added to increase the conductivity to the simple Li:PSS solution before its use which also resulted in lower performance. Furthermore, a bilayer of PEDOT:PSS and Li:PSS was employed, which outperformed simple PEDOT:PSS due to high quality of perovskite film with large grain size also the large electron injection barrier (ϕ_e) impeded back diffusion of electrons towards anode. As a consequence, devices employing PEDOT:PSS / Li:PSS bilayers gave the highest PCE of 18.64%.     

掺杂PEDOT：PSS空穴传输层在钙钛矿太阳能电池中的应用

钙钛矿太阳能电池(PSCs)因易于制备、生产成本低和能量转换效率高而受到广泛关注。聚乙撑二氧噻吩-聚(苯乙烯磺酸盐)(PEDOT∶PSS)由于具有易低温加工、透光度高和适宜空穴迁移率等特点而成为PSCs中空穴传输层的研究热点。本文简述了倒置PSCs的结构及工作原理,重点介绍了掺杂PEDOT∶PSS空穴传输层在PSCs领域的研究现状。分别从有机化合物掺杂剂、无机化合物掺杂剂和表面活性剂掺杂剂三个类别概述了掺杂PEDOT∶PSS空穴传输层对PSCs性能的影响。最后,对该领域存在的问题提出潜在措施以改善PEDOT∶PSS掺杂层在PSCs中的应用。     

Green-solvent Processable Dopant-free Hole Transporting Materials for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

The commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) urgently requires the development of green-solvent processable dopant-free hole transporting materials (HTMs). However, strong intermolecular interactions that ensure high hole mobility always compromise the solubility and film-forming ability in green solvents. Herein, we show a simple but effective design strategy to solve this trade-off, that is, constructing star-shaped D-A-D structure. The resulting HTMs (BTP1-2) can be processed by green solvent of 2-methylanisole (2MA), a kind of food additive, and show high hole mobility and multiple defect passivation effects. An impressive efficiency of 24.34 % has been achieved for 2MA-processed BTP1 based inverted PVSCs, the highest value for green-solvent processable HTMs so far. Moreover, it is manifested that the charge separation of D-A type HTMs at the photoinduced excited state can help to passivate the defects of perovskites, indicating a new HTM design insight.     

Aggregation-induced Emission Materials for High-efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells

The perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with high efficiency and stability are in great demand for commercial applications. Although the remarkable photovoltaic feature of perovskite layer plays a great role in improving the PCE of PSCs, the inevitable defects and poor stability of perovskite, etc. are the bottleneck and restrict the commercialization of PSCs. Herein, a review provides a strategy of applying aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecules, containing passivation functional groups and distinct AIE character, which serves as the alternative materials for fabricating high-efficiency and high-stability PSCs. The methods of introducing AIE molecules to PSCs are also summarized, including additive engineering, interfacial engineering, hole transport materials and so on. In addition, the functions of AIE molecule are discussed, such as defects passivation, morphology modulation, well-matched energy level, enhanced stability, hole transport ability, carrier recombination suppression. Finally, the detailed functions of AIE molecules are offered and further research trend for high performance PSCs based on AIE materials is proposed.     

Tuning Hole Transport Properties via Pyrrole Derivation for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

Hole transport materials (HTMs) with high hole mobility, good band alignment and ease of fabrication are highly desirable for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, we designed and synthesized novel organic HTMs, named T3, which can be synthesized in high yields with commercially available materials, featuring a substituted pyrrole core and triphenylamine peripheral arms. The capability of functionalization in the final synthetic step provides an efficient way to obtain a variety of T3-based HTMs with tunable energy levels and other properties. Among them, fluorine-substituted T3 (T3-F) exhibits the best band alignment and hole extraction properties, leading to PSCs with outstanding PCEs of 24.85 % and 24.03 % (certified 23.46 %) for aperture areas of 0.1 and 1 cm², respectively. The simple structure and tunable performance of T3 can inspire further optimization for efficient PSCs.     

Star‐Shaped Molecules as Dopant‐Free Hole Transporting Materials for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells: Multiscale Simulation

On the reported TCP‐OH (See Scheme 1), other two star‐shaped molecules are theoretically designed by replacement of side group of TCP‐OH by N,N‐di(4‐methoxyphenyl)aniline for TPAP‐OH and oxygen‐bridged triarylamine for TBOPP‐OH . The core group, phenol, is kept in three molecules. Their potential to be hole transport material in perovskite solar cells without dopants is evaluated by multiscale simulations. The properties of isolated molecules are estimated by the frontier molecular orbital, absorption spectrum, and hole mobility. After that, the HTM@CH₃NH₃PbI₃ adsorbed system is studied to consider the influence of adsorption on HTM performance. Besides the primary judgment, the glass transition temperature is also simulated to determine the stability of amorphous film. Not only the chemical stability is evaluated but also the amorphous film stability is considered. The latter is almost neglected in previous theoretical studies to evaluate the properties of HTMs. The performance of a designed molecule is evaluated from both the isolated molecules and HTM@CH₃NH₃PbI₃ adsorbed system including aforementioned items, which is favorable to build reliable structure‐property relationship.     

反式钙钛矿太阳能电池研究进展

反式结构的钙钛矿太阳能电池由于其稳定性好、迟滞效应低等优点越来越受到人们的关注. 自2013年出现以来, 其光电转换效率从最初3.9%快速提升至21.5%. 然而, 反式钙钛矿太阳能电池的光电转化效率相比于传统正置结构钙钛矿太阳能电池依然存在差距, 同时其柔性及空气稳定性和大面积制备技术的开发仍是当前急需亟待解决的难题. 本文就反式钙钛矿太阳能电池载流子传输材料的选择、界面优化及柔性器件的发展等方面进行了系统的综述, 试图总结由结构和材料优化实现反式钙钛矿太阳能电池的高效率、高稳定性、大面积及柔性制备的普遍规律.     

反式钙钛矿电池超薄空穴传输层研究进展

空穴传输层(HTLs)厚度对反式钙钛矿太阳能电池(PSCs)性能具有重大影响,因其显著影响太阳光透过和HTLs的空穴传输性能。几个纳米至十几个纳米厚度的超薄HTLs在减少伴生吸收、电荷传输损失和材料消耗等方面具有明显优势。目前,有许多成熟的制备超薄无机HTLs的方法,并在反式和叠层PSCs中得到广泛研究与应用。最近,一些关于有机超薄HTLs的新型制备方法也展现出良好的性能并逐渐引起相关领域研究者关注。在此,本文主要总结反式PSCs中超薄HTLs的研究进展与应用,关注其未来发展的挑战和方向,为该领域进一步的研究提供参考。     

螺芳基钙钛矿太阳能电池空穴传输材料研究进展

近10年, 第三代光电能源转换技术钙钛矿太阳能电池(PSCs)正迅速崛起. 基于有机-无机杂化钙钛矿材料的本征半导体特性以及PSCs平面多层器件架构特点, 采用有机小分子空穴传输材料(HTMs)作为PSCs的p-型层, 不仅实现了PSCs器件的全固态化, 且大幅提升了器件效率及稳定性. 以当前通用的标准空穴传输材料spiro-OMeTAD (2,2′,7,7′-四[N,N-二(4-甲氧基苯基)氨基]-9,9′-螺二芴)为模板, 研究人员开展了众多结构剖析和改进工作. 分子spiro-OMeTAD中, 三维螺二芴(SBF)核能以较小的空间集成更多的空穴传输单元; 而芳胺优异的p-型特性, 使其成为高效的电活性单元. 经典螺芳核SBF制备成本高, 可修饰位置单一; 因此, 基于spiro-OMeTAD的结构改进主要围绕芳胺单元的修饰开展. 随着HTMs分子设计以及合成方法学的进展, 近5年来, 一系列低成本、高性能的类SBF螺芳基单元逐渐兴起, 并迅速进入空穴传输材料领域, 如: 螺[芴-9,9′-氧杂蒽]、螺吖啶、螺硫杂蒽等. 螺芳基核结构的日益丰富, 大大拓展了HTMs分子的设计空间, 从而推动了PSCs效率和稳定性的不断提升. 因此, 本综述聚焦含螺芳烃骨架的HTMs分子, 根据其器件性能表现, 分析高性能材料的结构要素. 按照螺芳烃核结构对高性能HTMs进行分类归纳, 总结了结构设计思路和构效关系. 期望通过较为全面的评述, 为HTMs分子构建提供可参考的策略, 从而推动PSCs继续向高效率、长寿命的实用化方向发展.     

Enhanced Hole Transport in Ternary Blend Polymer Solar Cells

Recently, ternary blend polymer solar cells have attracted great attention to improve a short-circuit current density (J_SC) effectively, because complementary absorption bands can harvest the solar light over a wide wavelength range from visible to near-IR region. Interestingly, some ternary blend solar cells have shown improvements not only in J_SC but also in fill factor (FF). Previously, we also reported that a ternary blend solar cell based on a low-bandgap polymer (PTB7-Th), a wide-bandgap polymer (PDCBT), and a fullerene derivative (PCBM) exhibited a higher FF than their binary analogues. Herein, we study charge transport in PTB7-Th/PDCBT/PCBM ternary blend films to address the origin of the improvement in FF. We found that hole polarons are located in PTB7-Th domains and their mobility is enhanced in the ternary blend film.     

Metallated Macrocyclic Derivatives as a Hole – Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Spiro‐OMeTAD is widely used as thehole‐transporting material (HTM) in perovskite solar cells (PSC), which extracts positive charges and protects the perovskite materials from metal electrode, setting a new world‐record efficiency of more than 20 %. Spiro‐OMeTAD layer engross moisture leading to the degradation of perovskite, and therefore, has poor air stability. It is also expensive therefore limiting scale‐up, so macrocyclic metal complex derivatives (MMDs) could be a suitable replacement. Our review covers low‐cost, high yield hydrophobic materials with minimal steps required for synthesis of efficient HTMs for planar/mesostructured PSCs. The MMDs based devices demonstrated PCEs around 19 % and showed stability for a longer duration, indicating that MMDs are a promising alternative to spiro‐OMeTAD and also easy to scale‐up via solution approach. Additionally, this review describes how optical and electrical properties of MMDs change with chemical structure, allowing for the design of novel hole‐mobility materials to achieve negligible hysteresis and act as effective functional barriers against moisture which results in a significant increase in the stability of the device. We provide an overview of the apt green‐synthesis, characterization, stability and implementation of the various classes of macrocyclic metal complex derivatives as HTM for photovoltaic applications.     

Green Solvent Processable,Asymmetric Dopant-Free Hole Transport Layer Material for Efficient and Stable n-i-p Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules

The 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. In this paper, we designed a novel, linear, organic small molecule, BDT-C8-3O, by introducing an asymmetric polar oligo(ethylene glycol) side chain. This method not only overcomes the solubility limitations in green solvents but also enables stacking the conjugated main chains in two patterns, which further enhances crystallinity and hole mobility. As a result, the n-i-p pero-SCs based on chlorobenzene- or green (natural compound) solvent 3-methylcyclohexanone-processed BDT-C8-3O HTL that without any dopant delivered world-recorded power conversion efficiencies of 24.11 % (certified of 23.82 %) and 23.53 %, respectively. The devices also demonstrated remarkable operational and high-temperature stabilities, maintaining over 84 % and 79.5 % of their initial efficiency for 2000 h, respectively. Encouragingly, dopant-free BDT-C8-3O HTL exhibits significant advantages in large-area fabrication, achieving state-of-the-art PCEs exceeding 20 % for 5×5 cm² modules (active area: 15.64 cm²), even when processed using green solvents.     

电泳法制备的致密氧化锡薄膜及其在高稳定性钙钛矿太阳能电池中的应用

在平面型钙钛矿太阳能电池中常采用SnO₂作为电子传输层材料,相应的SnO₂薄膜常采用溶液旋涂法制备。但是由于前驱液中的纳米颗粒可能会发生部分团聚、基底和溶液难以完全避免灰尘等杂质颗粒混入,且最佳的SnO₂电子传输层的厚度通常仅有约20 nm,所以这种方法制备的电子传输层难以保证严格致密和无纳米针孔。在本工作中,我们报道了一种电泳沉积制备致密SnO₂薄膜的方法,并用其有效地提高了钙钛矿太阳能电池的光电转换效率和工况稳定性。通过电泳法,表面带负电荷的SnO₂纳米颗粒在电场的作用下沉积到氧化铟锡(ITO)阳极表面,这种方法得到的薄膜比旋涂法制备的更为致密。将其应用于n-i-p结构的钙钛矿太阳能电池中,能够使得暗电流降低并抑制载流子的非辐射复合,从而提高电池的短路电流和开路电压,进而实现更高的光电转换效率(从18.17%提高到19.52%),且能消除迟滞效应。更重要的是,长期工况稳定性测试表明基于电泳-旋涂法制备的器件在1个太阳的光照下、最大功率点处连续工作960 h后,仍然能够保持71%的初始效率;然而基于旋涂法制备的器件在工作100 h后即降低到初始效率的70%。本工作提供了一种全新的SnO₂电子传输层的制备方法,显著地提高了器件性能和工况稳定性,后续有望应用于制备大面积器件和电池模组。     

SnO2表面卤化提高钙钛矿太阳能电池光伏性能

钙钛矿太阳能电池(PSCs)成为近几年来迅速发展的新型太阳能电池,其中将SnO₂纳米粒子层用作电子传输层(ETL)的钙钛矿太阳能电池器件得到了广泛的关注。SnO₂有着更低的制备温度,使其具备应用于柔性器件的潜力,但与钙钛矿层能级不匹配等问题限制着其发展。而在界面处加入钝化层,尤其是表面卤化的方法或可解决这一问题。本文综合研究了SnO₂表面卤化对钙钛矿太阳能电池光伏性能的影响,选用四丁基氯化铵(TBAC)、四丁基溴化铵(TBAB)和四丁基碘化铵(TBAI)三种钝化材料对SnO₂表面进行钝化处理,并对钝化材料溶液进行了浓度梯度研究。通过材料形貌、结构和光学性能表征以及电池器件性能测试分析等方法,证明了SnO₂表面卤化可提高钙钛矿层的质量和PSCs光伏性能,并从器件内部电荷传输动力学等角度解释了器件性能改善的原因。为进一步说明其性能改善的机理,采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的第一性原理计算方法对材料表面性质进行了深入研究,从能量、结构、电荷密度、态密度、功函数等角度解释了表面卤化提高SnO₂/钙钛矿界面处电子传输特性的原因。实验和理论计算均表明TBAC对于SnO₂具有较好的钝化效果,并随着溶液浓度的提升钝化作用越明显。SnO₂表面卤化作用的深入研究不仅对提高电池器件性能具有实际意义,还能够帮助理解太阳能电池界面现象,为界面改性提供新的研究思路。     

SnO2双层电子传输层对钙钛矿太阳能电池界面电荷传输的影响

为了改善基于SnO₂电子传输层的钙钛矿太阳能电池的界面电荷传输特性和迟滞现象,我们采用低温溶液处理工艺制备了4种不同类型的SnO₂电子传输层用于钙钛矿太阳能电池,包括由SnCl₄·5H₂O溶胶-凝胶层(Cl₄-SnO₂)、SnCl₂·2H₂O溶胶-凝胶层(Cl₂-SnO₂)和SnO₂纳米颗粒层(NP-SnO₂)与SnO₂胶体层(Col-SnO₂)两两相互作用形成的同质结SnO₂双层电子传输层和Col-SnO₂单层电子传输层;并系统研究了不同SnO₂双层电子传输层对器件光电性能和迟滞现象的影响。通过扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、稳态光致发光(PL)、电化学阻抗(EIS)和稳定性测试等表征证实,在Col-SnO...     

Material and Interface Engineering for High‐Performance Perovskite Solar Cells: A Personal Journey and Perspective

Hybrid organic‐inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have become a shining star in the photovoltaic field due to their spectacular increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 3.8 % to over 23 % in just few years, opening up the potential in addressing the important future energy and environment issues. The excellent photovoltaic performance can be attributed to the unique properties of the organometal halide perovskite materials, including high absorption coefficient, tunable bandgap, high defect tolerance, and excellent charge transport characteristics. The authors entered this field when pursuing research on dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) by leveraging nanorods arrays for vectorial transport of the extracted electrons. Soon after, we and others realized that while the organometal halide perovskite materials have excellent intrinsic properties for solar cells, interface engineering is at least equally important in the development of high‐performance PSCs, which includes surface defect passivation, band alignment, and heterojunction formation. Herein, we will address this topic by presenting the historical development and recent progress on the interface engineering of PSCs primarily of our own group. This review is mainly focused on the material and interface design of the conventional n‐i‐p, inverted p‐i‐n and carbon electrode‐based structure devices from our own experience and perspective. Finally, the challenges and prospects of this area for future development will also be discussed.     

钙钛矿太阳能电池电子传输层的制备及应用

目前,有机-无机杂化钙钛矿太阳能电池(PSC)的器件效率已经超过25％.电子传输层作为PSC中的重要组成部分在提取和传输光生电子,阻挡空穴,修饰界面,调节界面能级和减少电荷复合等方面起着关键作用.无机n型材料,例如TiO2、ZnO、SnO2和其他金属氧化物材料具有成本低和稳定性好的特点,经常在传统PSC中被用作电子传输...     

Designing Hole Transport Materials with High Hole Mobility and Outstanding Interface Properties for Perovskite Solar Cells

Organic–inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted much attention due to their rapid increase in power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), and many efforts are devoted to further improving the PCEs. Designing highly efficient hole transport materials (HTMs) for PSCs may be one of the effective ways. Herein we theoretically designed three new HTMs (FDT−N, FDT−O, and FDT−S) by introducing a nitrogen-phenyl group, an oxygen atom, and a sulfur atom into the spiro core of an experimentally synthesized HTM (FDT), respectively. And then we performed quantum chemical calculation to study their application potential. The results show that the devices with FDT−O and FDT−S instead of FDT may have higher open circuit voltages owing to their lower highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels. Moreover, FDT−S exhibits the best hole transport performance among the studied HTMs, which may be due to the significant HOMO-HOMO overlap in the hole hopping path with the largest transfer integral. Furthermore, the results on interface properties indicate that introducing oxygen and sulfur atoms can enhance the MAPbI₃/HTM interface interaction. The present work not only offers two promising HTMs (FDT−O and FDT−S) for PSCs but also provides theoretical help for subsequent research on HTMs.     

基于1D/0D有序复合SnO2纳米晶的钙钛矿太阳能电池

通过水热前驱体中的功能添加剂调控一维(1D)纳米棒阵列疏密度,继而在纳米棒间隙沉积零维(0D)纳米颗粒,制备1D/0D有序的复合SnO2电子传输层(ETL),并组装高效、稳定的钙钛矿太阳能电池。系统研究前驱体中NaCl添加剂以及后续纳米颗粒的沉积对复合ETL的形貌结构、光谱性能及界面电荷过程的作用规律,探讨上述作用对电池光电性能的影响机制。前驱体中NaCl的加入使棒密度变小,从而使0D纳米颗粒顺利渗透到1D纳米棒间隙中,其对钙钛矿/ETL和钙钛矿/FTO界面复合的抑制作用是造成器件开路电压和填充因子增大的原因。在经2 mL饱和NaCl水溶液改性的1D电子传输层ETL-2Cl的基础上,继续沉积0D的纳米颗粒,制备得到新型1D/0D复合电子传输层ETL-2P,后者优良的电荷复合抑制作用(复合电阻是ETL-2Cl的2.9倍)和高效的电子抽提性能(抽提速率3.03×10^7 s^-1,抽提效率91.6%)促成了电池较优的光电性能(光电效率12.15%)。     

低成本富勒烯衍生物电子传输层在钙钛矿太阳能电池的应用

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted significant attention owing to their high absorption coefficient and ambipolar charge transport properties. With only several years of development, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) has increased from 3.8% to 22.7%. In general, PSCs have two types of structural architecture: mesoporous and planar. The latter possesses higher potential for commercialization due to its simpler structure and fabrication process, especially the inverted planar structure, which possesses negligible hysteresis. In an inverted PSC, the electron transport materials (ETM) are deposited on a perovskite film. Only a few ETMs can be used for inverted PSCs as the perovskite film is easily damaged by the solvent used to dissolve the ETM. Furthermore, the energy levels of the ETM should be well aligned with that of the perovskites. Normally it is difficult to use inorganic ETMs as they require high temperatures for the annealing process to improve the electron conductivity; the perovskite film cannot sustain these high temperatures. To date, the fullerene derivative, [6, 6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), is the most commonly used organic ETM for high efficiency inverted planar PSCs. However, the high manufacturing cost due to its complex synthesis retards the industrialization of the PSCs. Here, we introduce a fullerene pyrrolidine derivative, N-methyl-2-pentyl-[60]fullerene pyrrolidine (NMPFP), synthesized via the Prato reaction of C₆₀ directly with cheap hexanal and sarcosine. Then the NMPFP electron transport layer (ETL) was prepared by a simple solution process. The properties of the resulting NMPFP ETLs were characterized using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry measurements, atomic force microscopy, and conductivity test. From the results of the UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry measurements, the LUMO level of NMPFP ETL was calculated to be 0.2 eV higher than that of the PCBM ETL. This contributes to a higher open-circuit photovoltage. In addition, the NMPFP film presented higher conductivity than the PCBM film. Thus, the photo-generated charge carriers in the perovskite films should be transported more efficiently to the NMPFP electron transport layer (ETL) than to the PCBM ETL. This was confirmed by the results of the steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopy. Finally, the NMPFP as an alternative low-cost ETL was employed in an inverted planar PSC to evaluate the device performance. The device made with the NMPFP ETL yielded an efficiency of 13.83% with negligible hysteresis, which is comparable to the PCBM counterpart devices. Moreover, since stability is another important parameter retarding the commercialization of PSCs, the stability of the PCBM and NMPFP base PSCs were investigated and compared. It was found that the NMPFP devices possessed significantly improved stability due to the higher hydrophobicity of the NMPFP. In conclusion, this research demonstrates that NMPFP is a promising ETL to replace PCBM for the industrialization of cheap, efficient and stable inverted planar PSCs.