Conventional
oxidation of 2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis[N,N-di(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]-9,9′-spirobifluorene
(Spiro-OMeTAD) by air would bring various drawbacks for perovskite
solar cells (PSCs), such as low power conversion efficiency (PCE)
and poor stability. Here, a series of heteroatom-substituted Keggin-type
polyoxometalates (POMs), H4PMo11VO40 (PMo11V), H5PMo10V2O40 (PMo10V2), and H6PMo9V3O40 (PMo9V3)
are prepared and applied as p-type dopants to realize quantitative
and controllable oxidation of Spiro-OMeTAD under an inert condition.
The possible mechanism and electron donor regions in the oxidation
of Spiro-OMeTAD are investigated using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR) spectra and the relationship between POM structures
and the oxidation degree of Spiro-OMeTAD is proposed. In addition,
the synergistic effect of heteroatoms makes V2-substituted
PMo10V2 exhibit appropriate oxidation of Spiro-OMeTAD
and promoted the highest efficient hole extraction as well as the
decreased charge recombination. Therefore, the champion device doped
with PMo10V2 shows a PCE of 20.41% and a superior
open circuit voltage (V
oc) of 1.133 V,
surpassing that of the pristine device (18.61%). This work presents
a fresh perspective to the controllable oxidation of Spiro-OMeTAD
employing economical inorganic POM dopants, which would promote the
commercialization of PSCs.