Polymer Amplification to Improve Performance and Stability toward Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells Fabrication

Abstract

The performance of methylammonium lead triiodide (CH3NH3PbI3)‐based solar cells depends on the crystallization and controlled microstructure. Despite their high performance, long‐term stability is a paramount factor toward large area fabrication and potential industrialization. Herein, poly(vinylidene fluoride–trifluoro ethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) is used as an additive into a low concentration–based perovskite precursor solution to control the crystallinity and microstructure. Perovskite layers of lower thicknesses are derived from low precursor concentration, however, they often suffer from severe voids and roughness. Introducing judicious quantities of P(VDF‐TrFE) improves the surface coverage and smoothness, as well as reduce the grain boundaries in the perovskite. An array of characterization techniques are used to probe the structural, microstructural, and spectroscopic properties. Impedance spectra suggest that the P(VDF‐TrFE) can improve the carrier lifetime and reduce the charge transfer resistance, which in turn allows improvment of photovoltaic performance. For an optimized concentration of P(VDF‐TrFE), the fabricated semitransparent solar cells yield a power conversion efficiency in excess of 10%, which supersedes pristine devices, along with improved stability. The device architecture and the fabrication technique provide an effective route to fabricate cost effective and visible‐light‐semitransparent perovskite solar cells.

Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells with Dielectric/Metal/Dielectric Top Electrodes

“…We obtained a high PCE of 15.33% for FAPbI 3 semitransparent solar cell with an AVT of 12.18% and a high AVT of 16.55% for FA 0.5 MA 0.38 Cs 0.12 PbI 2.04 Br 0.96 semitransparent solar cell with the best PCE of 13.16%. Figure and Table show the comparison of our devices with other reported ones . Ours have a relatively higher transmittance with a high PCE of above 13%.…”

“…Figure 10 and Table 3 show the comparison of our devices with other reported ones. [3,8,13,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Ours have a relatively higher transmittance with a high PCE of above 13%. More details about statistics analysis and hysteresis behavior of three kinds of PSCs are shown in Supporting Information.…”

“…Worsley and coworkers utilized a transparent conducting adhesive to laminate a Ni mesh embedded within poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) onto the perovskite layer to obtain a PCE over 15% . Ahmad and coworkers introduced judicious quantities of P(VDF‐TrFE) to control the crystallinity and microstructure of the perovskite layer, so as to yield the PCE from 9.15% to 10.20% with improved stability . Obviously, it is hard for high efficiency and high transparency to coexist in semitransparent solar cells.…”

“…[7] Ahmad and coworkers introduced judicious quantities of P(VDF-TrFE) to control the crystallinity and microstructure of the perovskite layer, so as to yield the PCE from 9.15% to 10.20% with improved stability. [8] Obviously, it is hard for high efficiency and high transparency to coexist in semitransparent solar cells.…”

Role and Contribution of Polymeric Additives in Perovskite Solar Cells: Crystal Growth Templates and Grain Boundary Passivators

“…Recently, P(VDF–TrFE) has been used as an additive in a low‐concentration perovskite‐precursor solution to improve the film‐surface coverage and smoothness and reduce the perovskite GBs. [ 61 ] Impedance spectra suggested that P(VDF–TrFE) could improve the carrier lifetime and reduce the charge‐transfer resistance, which in turn improved the photovoltaic performance. For the optimized P(VDF–TrFE) concentration, the fabricated semitransparent solar cells yielded a PCE above 10%, superseding those of pristine devices, and improved stability.…”