Self-Assembled Monolayer-Based Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract

Ever since self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were adopted as hole-transporting layers (HTL) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), numerous SAMs for HTL have been synthesized and reported. SAMs offer several unique advantages including relatively simple synthesis, straightforward molecular engineering, effective surface modification using small amounts of molecules, and suitability for large-area device fabrication. In this review, we discuss recent developments of SAM-based hole-transporting materials (HTMs) for PSCs. Notably, in this article, SAM-based HTMs have been categorized by similarity of synthesis to provide general information for building a SAM structure. SAMs are composed of head, linker, and anchoring groups, and the selection of anchoring groups is key to design the synthetic procedure of SAM-based HTMs. In addition, the working mechanism of SAM-based HTMs has been visualized and explained to provide inspiration for finding new head and anchoring groups that have not yet been explored. Furthermore, both photovoltaic properties and device stabilities have been discussed and summarized, expanding reader’s understanding of the relationship between the structure and performance of SAMs-based PSCs.

Zinc complex-based hole transporting material for perovskite solar cell applications

“…33 A diverse set of small molecules and polymeric structural designs as HTMs have been identified as HTMs for PSC applications. 28,33,35,57–61 However, the transition metal complexes as HTMs for PSCs have received less attention.…”

Structural divergence of molecular hole selective materials for viable p-i-n perovskite photovoltaics: a comprehensive review

“…85,112,113 Eminent research groups reviewed the development and prospects of organic HSMs for p-i-n PSCs in recent years. 84,112–121 As most of the organic HSMs incorporated phenylamine derivatives as donor units, understanding the influence of the different types of central core structural units in determining photovoltaic and stability performance will provide important information for selecting core units in future HSM molecular design for p-i-n PSCs. However, so far, comprehensive analyses of these central core units for p-i-n PSCs are limited in the literature.…”