AI Chat Paper
Note: Please note that the following content is generated by AMiner AI. SciOpen does not take any responsibility related to this content.
{{lang === 'zh_CN' ? '文章概述' : 'Summary'}}
{{lang === 'en_US' ? '中' : 'Eng'}}
Chat more with AI
PDF (2.3 MB)
Collect
Submit Manuscript AI Chat Paper
Show Outline
Outline
Show full outline
Hide outline
Outline
Show full outline
Hide outline
Research Article | Open Access

Self-assembled monolayer enabling improved buried interfaces in blade-coated perovskite solar cells for high efficiency and stability

Jie Zeng1,§Leyu Bi2,§Yuanhang Cheng1Baomin Xu4( )Alex K.-Y. Jen1,2,3( )
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Photonic-Thermal-Electrical Energy Materials and Devices, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China

§ Jie Zeng and Leyu Bi contributed equally to this work.

Show Author Information

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Despite the rapidly increased power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs), it is still quite challenging to bring such promising photovoltaic technology to commercialization. One of the challenges is the upscaling from small-sized lab devices to large-scale modules or panels for production. Currently, most of the efficient inverted PVSCs are fabricated on top of poly[bis(4-phenyl)(2, 4, 6-trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA), which is a commonly used hole-transporting material, using spin-coating method to be incompatible with large-scale film deposition. Therefore, it is important to develop proper coating methods such as blade-coating or slot-die coating that can be compatible for producing large-area, high-quality perovskite thin films. It is found that due to the poor wettability of PTAA, the blade-coated perovskite films on PTAA surface are often inhomogeneous with large number of voids at the buried interface of the perovskite layer. To solve this problem, self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-based hole-extraction layer (HEL) with tunable headgroups on top of the SAM can be modified to provide better wettability and facilitate better interactions with the perovskite coated on top to passivate the interfacial defects. The more hydrophilic SAM surface can also facilitate the nucleation and growth of perovskite films fabricated by blade-coating methods, forming a compact and uniform buried interface. In addition, the SAM molecules can also be modified so their highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels can have a better energy alignment with the valence band maxima (VBM) of perovskite. Benefitted by the high-quality buried interface of perovskite on SAM-based substrate, the champion device shows a PCE of 18.47% and 14.64% for the devices with active areas of 0.105 cm2 and 1.008 cm2, respectively. In addition, the SAM-based device exhibits decent stability, which can maintain 90% of its initial efficiency after continuous operation for over 500 h at 40 ℃ in inert atmosphere. Moreover, the SAM-based perovskite mini-module exhibits a PCE of 14.13% with an aperture area of 18.0 cm2. This work demonstrates the great potential of using SAMs as efficient HELs for upscaling PVSCs and producing high-quality buried interface for large-area perovskite films.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Download File(s)
nre-1-1-9120004_ESM.pdf (1.7 MB)

References

[1]
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart [Online]. https://www.nrel.gov/pv/assets/pdfs/best-research-cell-efficiencies-rev220126.pdf (accessed May 11, 2022).
[2]

Shockley, W.; Queisser, H. J. Detailed balance limit of efficiency of p-n junction solar cells. J. Appl. Phys. 1961, 32, 510-519.

[3]

Li, Z.; Klein, T. R.; Kim, D. H.; Yang, M. J.; Berry, J. J.; Van Hest, M. F. A. M.; Zhu, K. Scalable fabrication of perovskite solar cells. Nat. Rev. Mater. 2018, 3, 18017.

[4]

Patidar, R.; Burkitt, D.; Hooper, K.; Richards, D.; Watson, T. Slot- die coating of perovskite solar cells: An overview. Mater. Today Commun. 2020, 22, 100808.

[5]

Fong, P. W. K.; Li, G. The challenge of ambient air-processed organometallic halide perovskite: Technology transfer from spin coating to meniscus blade coating of perovskite thin films. Front. Mater. 2021, 8, 635224.

[6]

Wu, Z. Y.; Li, W. H.; Ye, Y. R.; Li, X.; Lin, H. Recent progress in meniscus coating for large-area perovskite solar cells and solar modules. Sustainable Energy Fuels 2021, 5, 1926-1951.

[7]

Xiao, Y. F.; Zuo, C. T.; Zhong, J. X.; Wu, W. Q.; Shen, L.; Ding, L. M. Large-area blade-coated solar cells: Advances and perspectives. Adv. Energy Mater. 2021, 11, 2100378.

[8]

Deng, Y. H.; Zheng, X. P.; Bai, Y.; Wang, Q.; Zhao, J. J.; Huang, J. S. Surfactant-controlled ink drying enables high-speed deposition of perovskite films for efficient photovoltaic modules. Nat. Energy 2018, 3, 560-566.

[9]

Deng, Y. H.; Van Brackle, C. H.; Dai, X. Z.; Zhao, J. J.; Chen, B.; Huang, J. S. Tailoring solvent coordination for high-speed, room- temperature blading of perovskite photovoltaic films. Sci. Adv. 2019, 5, eaax7537.

[10]

Wu, W. Q.; Yang, Z. B.; Rudd, P. N.; Shao, Y. C.; Dai, X. Z.; Wei, H. T.; Zhao, J. J.; Fang, Y. J.; Wang, Q.; Liu, Y. et al. Bilateral alkylamine for suppressing charge recombination and improving stability in blade-coated perovskite solar cells. Sci. Adv. 2019, 5, eaav8925.

[11]

Liu, K.; Liang, Q.; Qin, M. C.; Shen, D.; Yin, H.; Ren, Z. W.; Zhang, Y. K.; Zhang, H. K.; Fong, P. W. K.; Wu, Z. H. et al. Zwitterionic- surfactant-assisted room-temperature coating of efficient perovskite solar cells. Joule 2020, 4, 2404-2425.

[12]

Wu, W. Q.; Rudd, P. N.; Wang, Q.; Yang, Z. B.; Huang, J. S. Blading phase-pure formamidinium-alloyed perovskites for high- efficiency solar cells with low photovoltage deficit and improved stability. Adv. Mater. 2020, 32, 2000995.

[13]

Chen, S. S.; Xiao, X.; Gu, H. Y.; Huang, J. S. Iodine reduction for reproducible and high-performance perovskite solar cells and modules. Sci. Adv. 2021, 7, eabe8130.

[14]

Bu, T. L.; Li, J.; Li, H. Y.; Tian, C. C.; Su, J.; Tong, G. Q.; Ono, L. K.; Wang, C.; Lin, Z. P.; Chai, N. Y. et al. Lead halide-templated crystallization of methylamine-free perovskite for efficient photovoltaic modules. Science 2021, 372, 1327-1332.

[15]

Yoo, J. W.; Jang, J.; Kim, U.; Lee, Y.; Ji, S. G.; Noh, E.; Hong, S.; Choi, M.; Seok, S. I. Efficient perovskite solar mini-modules fabricated via bar-coating using 2-methoxyethanol-based formamidinium lead tri-iodide precursor solution. Joule 2021, 5, 2420-2436.

[16]

Zheng, X. P.; Hou, Y.; Bao, C. X.; Yin, J.; Yuan, F. L.; Huang, Z. R.; Song, K. P.; Liu, J. K.; Troughton, J.; Gasparini, N. et al. Managing grains and interfaces via ligand anchoring enables 22.3%-efficiency inverted perovskite solar cells. Nat. Energy 2020, 5, 131-140.

[17]

Li, F. Z.; Deng, X.; Qi, F.; Li, Z.; Liu, D. J.; Shen, D.; Qin, M. C.; Wu, S. F.; Lin, F.; Jang, S. H. et al. Regulating surface termination for efficient inverted perovskite solar cells with greater than 23% efficiency. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 20134-20142.

[18]

Wu, S. F.; Li, Z.; Zhang, J.; Wu, X.; Deng, X.; Liu, Y. M.; Zhou, J. K.; Zhi, C. Y.; Yu, X. E.; Choy, W. C. H. et al. Low-bandgap organic bulk-heterojunction enabled efficient and flexible perovskite solar cells. Adv. Mater. 2021, 33, 2105539.

[19]

Chen, S. S.; Dai, X. Z.; Xu, S.; Jiao, H. Y.; Zhao, L.; Huang, J. S. Stabilizing perovskite-substrate interfaces for high-performance perovskite modules. Science 2021, 373, 902-907.

[20]

Al-Ashouri, A.; Magomedov, A.; Roß, M.; Jošt, M.; Talaikis, M.; Chistiakova, G.; Bertram, T.; Márquez, J. A.; Köhnen, E.; Kasparavičius, E. et al. Conformal monolayer contacts with lossless interfaces for perovskite single junction and monolithic tandem solar cells. Energy Environ. Sci. 2019, 12, 3356-3369.

[21]

Al-Ashouri, A.; Köhnen, E.; Li, B.; Magomedov, A.; Hempel, H.; Caprioglio, P.; Márquez, J. A.; Vilches, A. B. M.; Kasparavicius, E.; Smith, J. A. et al. Monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell with > 29% efficiency by enhanced hole extraction. Science 2020, 370, 1300-1309.

[22]

Levine, I.; Al-Ashouri, A.; Musiienko, A.; Hempel, H.; Magomedov, A.; Drevilkauskaite, A.; Getautis, V.; Menzel, D.; Hinrichs, K.; Unold, T. et al. Charge transfer rates and electron trapping at buried interfaces of perovskite solar cells. Joule 2021, 5, 2915-2933.

[23]

Ullah, A.; Park, K. H.; Nguyen, H. D.; Siddique, Y.; Shah, S. F. A.; Tran, H.; Park, S.; Lee, S. I.; Lee, K. K.; Han, C. H. et al. Novel phenothiazine-based self-assembled monolayer as a hole selective contact for highly efficient and stable p-i-n perovskite solar cells. Adv. Energy Mater. 2022, 12, 2103175.

[24]

Kim, S. Y.; Cho, S. J.; Byeon, S. E.; He, X.; Yoon, H. J. Self-assembled monolayers as interface engineering nanomaterials in perovskite solar cells. Adv. Energy Mater. 2020, 10, 2002606.

[25]

Dai, Z. H.; Yadavalli, S. K.; Chen, M.; Abbaspourtamijani, A.; Qi, Y.; Padture, N. P. Interfacial toughening with self-assembled monolayers enhances perovskite solar cell reliability. Science 2021, 372, 618-622.

[26]

Hu, H. L.; Singh, M.; Wan, X. J.; Tang, J. N.; Chu, C. W.; Li, G. Nucleation and crystal growth control for scalable solution-processed organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells. J. Mater. Chem. A 2020, 8, 1578-1603.

[27]

Huang, C. Y.; Fu, W. F.; Li, C. Z.; Zhang, Z. Q.; Qiu, W. M.; Shi, M. M.; Heremans, P.; Jen, A. K. Y.; Chen, H. Z. Dopant-free hole-transporting material with a C3h symmetrical truxene core for highly efficient perovskite solar cells. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 2528-2531.

[28]

Chen, W.; Wang, Y.; Liu, B.; Gao, Y. J.; Wu, Z. A.; Shi, Y. Q.; Tang, Y. M.; Yang, K.; Zhang, Y. J.; Sun, W. P. et al. Engineering of dendritic dopant-free hole transport molecules: Enabling ultrahigh fill factor in perovskite solar cells with optimized dendron construction. Sci. China Chem. 2021, 64, 41-51.

[29]

Cheng, Y. H.; Xu, X. W.; Xie, Y. M.; Li, H. W.; Qing, J.; Ma, C. Q.; Lee, C. S.; So, F.; Tsang, S. W. 18% High-efficiency air-processed perovskite solar cells made in a humid atmosphere of 70% RH. Solar RRL 2017, 1, 1700097.

[30]

Drabczyk, K.; Kulesza-Matlak, G.; Drygała, A.; Szindler, M.; Lipiński, M. Electroluminescence imaging for determining the influence of metallization parameters for solar cell metal contacts. Solar Energy 2016, 126, 14-21.

[31]

Khenkin, M. V.; Katz, E. A.; Abate, A.; Bardizza, G.; Berry, J. J.; Brabec, C.; Brunetti, F.; Bulović, V.; Burlingame, Q.; Di Carlo, A. et al. Consensus statement for stability assessment and reporting for perovskite photovoltaics based on ISOS procedures. Nat. Energy 2020, 5, 35-49.

Nano Research Energy
Article number: 9120004
Cite this article:
Zeng J, Bi L, Cheng Y, et al. Self-assembled monolayer enabling improved buried interfaces in blade-coated perovskite solar cells for high efficiency and stability. Nano Research Energy, 2022, 1: 9120004. https://doi.org/10.26599/NRE.2022.9120004

14895

Views

2924

Downloads

105

Crossref

103

Scopus

Altmetrics

Received: 03 March 2022
Accepted: 09 May 2022
Published: 12 May 2022
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Tsinghua University Press.

The articles published in this open access journal are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Return