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Marimuthu S, Prabhakaran Shyma A, Sathyanarayanan S, Gopal T, James JT, Nagalingam SP, Gunaseelan B, Babu S, Sellappan R, Grace AN. The dawn of MXene duo: revolutionizing perovskite solar cells with MXenes through computational and experimental methods. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:10108-10141. [PMID: 38722253 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01053a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Integrating MXene into perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has heralded a new era of efficient and stable photovoltaic devices owing to their supreme electrical conductivity, excellent carrier mobility, adjustable surface functional groups, excellent transparency and superior mechanical properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the experimental and computational techniques employed in the synthesis, characterization, coating techniques and performance optimization of MXene additive in electrodes, hole transport layer (HTL), electron transport layer (ETL) and perovskite photoactive layer of the perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Experimentally, the synthesis of MXene involves various methods, such as selective etching of MAX phases and subsequent delamination. At the same time, characterization techniques encompass X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which elucidate the structural and chemical properties of MXene. Experimental strategies for fabricating PSCs involving MXene include interfacial engineering, charge transport enhancement, and stability improvement. On the computational front, density functional theory calculations, drift-diffusion modelling, and finite element analysis are utilized to understand MXene's electronic structure, its interface with perovskite, and the transport mechanisms within the devices. This review serves as a roadmap for researchers to leverage a diverse array of experimental and computational methods in harnessing the potential of MXene for advanced PSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sathish Marimuthu
- Centre for Nanotechnology Research (CNR), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Arunkumar Prabhakaran Shyma
- Centre for Nanotechnology Research (CNR), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Shriswaroop Sathyanarayanan
- Centre for Nanotechnology Research (CNR), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Tamilselvi Gopal
- Centre for Nanotechnology Research (CNR), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Jaimson T James
- Centre for Nanotechnology Research (CNR), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Suruthi Priya Nagalingam
- Centre for Nanotechnology Research (CNR), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Bharath Gunaseelan
- Centre for Nanotechnology Research (CNR), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Sivasri Babu
- Centre for Nanotechnology Research (CNR), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Raja Sellappan
- Centre for Nanotechnology Research (CNR), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Andrews Nirmala Grace
- Centre for Nanotechnology Research (CNR), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Shi X, Liu T, Dou Y, Hu X, Liu Y, Wang F, Wang L, Ren Z, Chen S. Air-Processed Perovskite Solar Cells with >25% Efficiency and High Stability Enabled by Crystallization Modulation and Holistic Passivation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2402785. [PMID: 38777327 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202402785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Organic semiconductors (e.g., PCBM and IDIC) frequently serve as interface passivants for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to their beneficial passivation effects on perovskite interfaces. However, their passivation to the interiors of perovskite films is greatly limited by their poor solubility in polar solvents and compatibility issues. Here the facile synthesis of organic semiconductor nanoparticle (NP) passivants that readily disperse in perovskite inks is reported. Adding these NPs into perovskite inks not only modulates perovskite crystallization, improves film quality and conductivity, but also achieves holistic bulk film passivation. Consequently, blade-coated p-i-n PSCs with ICBA NPs achieve an impressive efficiency of 25.1% (independently certified as 25.0%), the highest reported value for air-processed PSCs irrespective of fabrication methods or device structures. This work develops a novel approach for effective and holistic perovskite passivation by converting conventional passivants to perovskite-compatible NPs, paving the way for more efficient and stable perovskite solar devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials & Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 21003, P. R. China
| | - Tianxiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials & Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 21003, P. R. China
| | - Yunjie Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials & Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 21003, P. R. China
| | - Xiaodong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials & Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 21003, P. R. China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials & Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 21003, P. R. China
| | - Feifei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials & Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 21003, P. R. China
| | - Lingyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials & Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 21003, P. R. China
| | - Zhijun Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials & Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 21003, P. R. China
| | - Shangshang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials & Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 21003, P. R. China
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Xu Y, Zhou C, Li X, Du K, Li Y, Dong X, Yuan N, Li L, Ding J. Equally Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules Fabricated via N-Ethyl-2-Pyrrolidone Optimized Vacuum-Flash. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400428. [PMID: 38741554 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Efficiency reduction in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) during the magnification procedure significantly hampers commercialization. Vacuum-flash (VF) has emerged as a promising method to fabricate PSCs with consistent efficiency across scales. However, the slower solvent removal rate of VF compared to the anti-solvent method leads to perovskite films with buried defects. Thus, this work employs low-toxic Lewis base ligand solvent N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone (NEP) to improve the nucleation process of perovskite films. NEP, with a mechanism similar to that of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in FA-based perovskite formation, enhances the solvent removal speed owing to its lower coordination ability. Based on this strategy, p-i-n PSCs with an optimized interface attain a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.19% on an area of 0.08 cm2. The same nucleation process enables perovskite solar modules (PSMs) to achieve a certified PCE of 23.28% on an aperture area of 22.96 cm2, with a high geometric fill factor of 97%, ensuring nearly identical active area PCE (24%) in PSMs as in PSCs. This strategy highlights the potential of NEP as a ligand solvent choice for the commercialization of PSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Province Cultivation base for State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, P. R. China
| | - Chenguang Zhou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Province Cultivation base for State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, P. R. China
| | - Xinzhu Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Province Cultivation base for State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, P. R. China
| | - Kaihuai Du
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Province Cultivation base for State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, P. R. China
| | - Yue Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Province Cultivation base for State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, P. R. China
| | - Xu Dong
- Yangzhou Technological Innovation Institute for Carbon Neutralization, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225127, P. R. China
| | - Ningyi Yuan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Province Cultivation base for State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, P. R. China
| | - Lvzhou Li
- Yangzhou Technological Innovation Institute for Carbon Neutralization, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225127, P. R. China
| | - Jianning Ding
- Yangzhou Technological Innovation Institute for Carbon Neutralization, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225127, P. R. China
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Parvazian E, Watson T. The roll-to-roll revolution to tackle the industrial leap for perovskite solar cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3983. [PMID: 38734720 PMCID: PMC11088710 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48518-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Roll-to-Roll (R2R) coating is a technology that potentially enhances throughput, reduces costs, and accommodates flexible substrates for fabricating various types of solar cells and modules. Here, authors discuss the R2R revolution to tackle the industrial leap for perovskite photovoltaic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ershad Parvazian
- SPECIFIC IKC, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Fabian way, Swansea, SA1 8EN, UK
| | - Trystan Watson
- SPECIFIC IKC, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Fabian way, Swansea, SA1 8EN, UK.
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Li Y, Wang Y, Xu Z, Peng B, Li X. Key Roles of Interfaces in Inverted Metal-Halide Perovskite Solar Cells. ACS NANO 2024; 18:10688-10725. [PMID: 38600721 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Metal-halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs), an emerging technology for transforming solar energy into a clean source of electricity, have reached efficiency levels comparable to those of commercial silicon cells. Compared with other types of PSCs, inverted perovskite solar cells (IPSCs) have shown promise with regard to commercialization due to their facile fabrication and excellent optoelectronic properties. The interlayer interfaces play an important role in the performance of perovskite cells, not only affecting charge transfer and transport, but also acting as a barrier against oxygen and moisture permeation. Herein, we describe and summarize the last three years of studies that summarize the advantages of interface engineering-based advances for the commercialization of IPSCs. This review includes a brief introduction of the structure and working principle of IPSCs, and analyzes how interfaces affect the performance of IPSC devices from the perspective of photovoltaic performance and device lifetime. In addition, a comprehensive summary of various interface engineering approaches to solving these problems and challenges in IPSCs, including the use of interlayers, interface modification, defect passivation, and others, is summarized. Moreover, based upon current developments and breakthroughs, fundamental and engineering perspectives on future commercialization pathways are provided for the innovation and design of next-generation IPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Systems Science in Metallurgical Process, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Yuhua Wang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Systems Science in Metallurgical Process, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Zichao Xu
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Systems Science in Metallurgical Process, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Systems Science in Metallurgical Process, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Xifei Li
- Key Materials & Components of Electrical Vehicles for Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation, Institute of Advanced Electrochemical Energy & School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
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Said AA, Aydin E, Ugur E, Xu Z, Deger C, Vishal B, Vlk A, Dally P, Yildirim BK, Azmi R, Liu J, Jackson EA, Johnson HM, Gui M, Richter H, Pininti AR, Bristow H, Babics M, Razzaq A, Allen TG, Ledinský M, Yavuz I, Rand BP, De Wolf S. Sublimed C 60 for efficient and repeatable perovskite-based solar cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:708. [PMID: 38267408 PMCID: PMC10808237 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44974-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Thermally evaporated C60 is a near-ubiquitous electron transport layer in state-of-the-art p-i-n perovskite-based solar cells. As perovskite photovoltaic technologies are moving toward industrialization, batch-to-batch reproducibility of device performances becomes crucial. Here, we show that commercial as-received (99.75% pure) C60 source materials may coalesce during repeated thermal evaporation processes, jeopardizing such reproducibility. We find that the coalescence is due to oxygen present in the initial source powder and leads to the formation of deep states within the perovskite bandgap, resulting in a systematic decrease in solar cell performance. However, further purification (through sublimation) of the C60 to 99.95% before evaporation is found to hinder coalescence, with the associated solar cell performances being fully reproducible after repeated processing. We verify the universality of this behavior on perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells by demonstrating their open-circuit voltages and fill factors to remain at 1950 mV and 81% respectively, over eight repeated processes using the same sublimed C60 source material. Notably, one of these cells achieved a certified power conversion efficiency of 30.9%. These findings provide insights crucial for the advancement of perovskite photovoltaic technologies towards scaled production with high process yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Said
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Erkan Aydin
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Esma Ugur
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Zhaojian Xu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Caner Deger
- Department of Physics, Marmara University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Badri Vishal
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Aleš Vlk
- Laboratory of Nanostructures and Nanomaterials, Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Cukrovarnická 10, Prague, 162 00, Czech Republic
| | - Pia Dally
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Bumin K Yildirim
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Randi Azmi
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jiang Liu
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Holly M Johnson
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Manting Gui
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | | | - Anil R Pininti
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Helen Bristow
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Maxime Babics
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Arsalan Razzaq
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Thomas G Allen
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Martin Ledinský
- Laboratory of Nanostructures and Nanomaterials, Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Cukrovarnická 10, Prague, 162 00, Czech Republic
| | - Ilhan Yavuz
- Department of Physics, Marmara University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Barry P Rand
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Stefaan De Wolf
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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