Layered metal halide perovskite solar cells: A review from structure‐properties perspective towards maximization of their performance and stability

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) technology is now reaching its full potential in terms of power conversion efficiency, but still presenting problems related to long‐term stability under operating conditions. One of the most promising alternatives to PSCs is the layered PSCs (2D‐PSCs). Layered perovskites present a huge compositional variety, which can be used to directly tune photophysical characteristics that influence the operational mechanisms of the devices. This review addresses the structural organization of both the organic and inorganic sublattices, focusing on how the structure influences the quantum and dielectric confinement, phonons and charge carriers' dynamics, charge mobility, and structural defects. We discuss the relation between the structure‐properties of layered perovskites with the performance of solar cells. We, then, offer insights into how these characteristics have been controlled in the assembly of 2D‐PSCs to improve their efficiency and stability. We conclude by giving a perspective of future developments and open areas of exploration that might impact the progress of this rapidly growing technology.

Ferroelasticity, thermochromism, semi-conductivity, and ferromagnetism in a new layered perovskite: (4-fluorophenethylaminium)2[CuCl4]

“…[21][22][23][24][25] Therein, the phenyl ring has multiple substitution sites, which is conducive to the structure optimization and performance regulation, and the flexible alkyl chain can easily swing to induce structural phase transition. [21][22][23][26][27][28] In particular, fluorine substitution on phenyl rings has been proved as an effective design strategy to regulate the properties of hybrid materials. [29][30][31][32] Fluorine is the most electronegative element and has a similar van der Waal's radius to that of the hydrogen atom, thus the fluorine substitution usually causes slight structural distortion but significantly tunes or improves the stability and physical properties of materials, 32 e.g., endowing (perfluorobenzylammonium) 2 [PbBr 4 ] and (2-fluorobenzylammonium) 2 [PbCl 4 ] with increased ferroelectric transition temperatures, 31,32 while bringing about a symmetry-reduced room-temperature phase for (FPEA) 2 [MCl 4 ] (M = Cd, Mn, FPEA + = 4-fluorophenethylaminium).…”

“…21–25 Therein, the phenyl ring has multiple substitution sites, which is conducive to the structure optimization and performance regulation, and the flexible alkyl chain can easily swing to induce structural phase transition. 21–23,26–28 In particular, fluorine substitution on phenyl rings has been proved as an effective design strategy to regulate the properties of hybrid materials. 29–32 Fluorine is the most electronegative element and has a similar van der Waal's radius to that of the hydrogen atom, thus the fluorine substitution usually causes slight structural distortion but significantly tunes or improves the stability and physical properties of materials, 32 e.g.…”

Colloidal Metal‐Halide Perovskite Nanoplatelets: Thickness‐Controlled Synthesis, Properties, and Application in Light‐Emitting Diodes

“…Therefore, dielectric screening becomes less effective in perovskite NPls, resulting in stronger interactions between electrons and holes, thus increasing the exciton binding energy (≈200-500 meV for NPls versus 5-60 meV for bulk 2D layered perovskites and unconfined NCs), [18] as well as the excitonic absorption coefficient. [68,70,158,159] The enhancement in exciton binding energy (ΔE b ) can be quantified by the following relation (Equation 2): [160,161]…”

A Review on the Development of Metal Grids for the Upscaling of Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules

“…[ 16 ] This last characteristic plays a very important role in the electronic properties of the material since it maintains good electronic quality despite the presence of defects. [ 17,18 ] So far, their main applications have been in solar cells, [ 19–31 ] light‐emitting diodes, [ 32 ] lasers, [ 33 ] energy conversion and storage applications. [ 34,35 ]…”

“…[16] This last characteristic plays a very important role in the electronic properties of the material since it maintains good electronic quality despite the presence of defects. [17,18] So far, their main applications have been in solar cells, [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] light-emitting diodes, [32] lasers, [33] energy conversion and storage applications. [34,35] The first concrete application of hybrid perovskite films as active material in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) was accomplished in 2006 by Kojima et al, [36] who studied MAPbBr 3 PSCs and achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.2%.…”