2021 Energy Environ. Sci. (IF 38.532), 22.09% PCE Inverted Perovskite! How does hydroxylated NFA work?
SS-X solar simulator makes the breakthrough possible!
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Energy & Environmental Science (IF 38.532) recently published a study to explore hydroxylated non-fullerene acceptors (NFA) that could be used in inverted perovskite solar cells and achieved a high efficiency of 22.09%. In the past decade, organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSC) have led to extensive research, and power conversion efficiency (PCE) has also been continuously improved. Compared with the traditional n-i-p structure PSC, the inverted p-i-n structure PSC (i-PSC) shows negligible hysteresis and can be used to construct tandem solar cells. However, due to the non-radiative recombination of the defect state and the energy mismatch of the electron transport layer, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of i-PSC still lags behind that of traditional batteries.
In this study, in order to reduce defects and improve electron transport at the same time, the research team used hydroxylated non-fullerene receptors (called IT-DOH) to modify the interface between the perovskite and the electron transport layer (ETL). IT-DOH molecules were mainly distributed at the grain boundaries and acted in three ways:
First, compared with the reference molecule ITIC. In addition to the -CN and -C=O groups, the additional -OH could be used with Pb2+ to further passivate the defects of the perovskite film and inhibit non-radiative recombination more effectively.
Second, the LUMO energy level of ITDOH formed a cascade energy level arrangement and promotes electron extraction.
Third, due to the elongation of the conjugated surface caused by the hydrogen bond interaction between molecules, the IT-DOH molecule exhibited a long-range-ordered molecular arrangement and frontal orientation, which facilitated the transfer of electrons from the perovskite to the ETL.
The current density-voltage (J−V) measurement, forward scan and reverse scan were carried out through the Enlitech’s solar simulator, and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) test was carried out with the QE-R quantum efficiency measurement system of Enlitech. The results of the study found that the i-PSC processed by IT-DOH achieved a PCE of 22.09%, which is the highest value among the published papers on NFA i-PSC. This study also confirmed that the hydroxylation of NFA molecules is very important for reducing defects and improving electron extraction/transport.
In addition to the EQE (External Quantum Efficiency) spectrum analysis of solar cells, the Quantum Efficiency Measurement System of Enlitech also provides Jsc (short-circuit current density) comparison for the short-circuit current of solar cells under the solar simulator to prove the authenticity of the experiment. The solar simulator and KA-6000 software of Enlitech also provide monitoring of the short-circuit current over time to prove the stability of the solar cell!
Chemical structure of IT-DOH and the deposition processes of perovskite films.
The J-V curve of the reverse and forward scanning directions, including IT-DOH-treated (a) CsFAMA perovskite and (b) CsFA perovskite.
Recommended Instruments: Solar Simulator, QE-R Quantum Efficiency Measurement System
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Keywords: non-fullerene acceptor, NFA, p-i-n PSC, Solar Simulator, Quantum Efficiency
Article link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/ee/d1ee02248b
