Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells represent an exceptional candidate for nextgeneration photovoltaic technology. However, the presence of surface defects in perovskite crystals limits the performance as well as the stability of perovskite solar cells. We have employed a series of carbazole and benzothiadiazole (BT) based donor-acceptor copolymers, which have different lengths of alkoxy side-chains grafted on the BT unit, as the dopant-free hole transport materials (HTMs) for perovskite solar cells. We demonstrate that although these side-chains can reduce the  stacking structural order of these copolymers to affect the hole transport properties, the methoxy unit introduces a desired defect passivation effect. Compared to the Spiro-OMeTAD-based device, the copolymer with methoxy side-chains on the BT unit (namely PCDTBT1) as the HTM achieved superior power conversion efficiency and stability due to efficient hole transport and the suppression of trap-induced degradation, whilst the copolymer with octyloxy side-chains on the BT unit (namely PCDTBT8) as the HTM lead to poor performance and stability.

High performance n–i–p type planar heterojunction PSCs with eliminated hysteresis and stabilized power output over 20% via compositional and surface modifications to a low-temperature-processed TiO2 electron-transport layer (ETL) is reported.

The π-conjugated organic small molecule 4,4′-cyclohexylidenebis[N,N-bis(4methylphenyl) benzenamine] (TAPC) has been explored as an efficient hole transport material to replace poly(3,4-ethylenedio-xythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) in the preparation of p-i-n type CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 perovskite solar cells. Smooth, uniform, and hydrophobic TAPC hole transport layers can be facilely deposited through solution casting without the need for any dopants. The power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells shows very weak TAPC layer thickness dependence across the range from 5 to 90 nm. Thermal annealing enables improved hole conductivity and efficient charge transport through an increase in TAPC crystallinity. The perovskite photoactive layer cast onto thermally annealed TAPC displays large grains and low residual PbI 2 , leading to a high charge recombination resistance. After optimization, a stabilized power conversion efficiency of 18.80% is achieved with marginal hysteresis, much higher than the value of 12.90% achieved using PEDOT:PSS. The TAPC-based devices also demonstrate superior stability compared with the PEDOT:PSS-based devices when stored in ambient circumstances, with a relatively high humidity ranging from 50 to 85%.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells have emerged as one of the promising photovoltaic candidates to generate renewable energy. However, the large amounts of grain boundaries and trap states that exist in the bulk or interfacial regions of perovskite films limit further enhancement of device efficiency. Herein, an additive engineering strategy is introduced employing trimethylammonium chloride in the methylammonium iodide precursor solution to prepare methylammonium lead iodide perovskite films with reduced grain boundaries and trap densities. This leads to an increased charge carrier diffusion coefficient and diffusion length, as evaluated by impedance and voltage decay measurements, intensity-modulated photovoltage, and photocurrent spectroscopies. The proportion of nonradiative recombination processes is significantly reduced, consequently increasing device efficiency from 19.1% to 20.9% in these perovskite solar cells.

This is a repository copy of Achieving over 11% power conversion efficiency in PffBT4T-2OD-based ternary polymer solar cells with enhanced open-circuit-voltage and suppressed charge recombination. . et al. (6 more authors) (2018) Achieving over 11% power conversion efficiency in PffBT4T-2OD-based ternary polymer solar cells with enhanced open-circuit-voltage and suppressed charge recombination. Nano Energy, 44. pp.