Correlation between Electronic Defect States Distribution and Device Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite Colloidal Nanocrystal Solar Cells: Current Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

The power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of polycrystalline perovskite (PVK) solar cells (SCs) (PC-PeSCs) have rapidly increased. However, PC-PeSCs are intrinsically unstable without encapsulation, and their efficiency drops during large-scale production; these problems hinder the commercial viability of PeSCs. Stability can be increased by using colloidal PVK nanocrystals (c-PeNCs), which have high surface strains, low defect density, and exceptional crystal quality. The use of c-PeNCs separates the crystallization process from the film formation process, which is preponderant in large-scale fabrication. Consequently, the use of c-PeNCs has substantial potential to overcome challenges encountered when fabricating PC-PeSCs. Research on colloidal nanocrystal-based PVK SCs (NC-PeSCs) has increased their PCEs to a level greater than those of other quantum-dot SCs, but has not reached the PCEs of PC-PeSCs; this inferiority significantly impedes widespread application of NC-PeSCs. This review first introduces the distinctive properties of c-PeNCs, then the strategies that have been used to achieve high-efficiency NC-PeSCs. Then it discusses in detail the persisting challenges in this domain. Specifically, the major challenges and solutions for NC-PeSCs related to low short-circuit current density Jsc are covered. Last, the article presents a perspective on future research directions and potential applications in the realm of NC-PeSCs.

Characterizing Spatial and Energetic Distributions of Trap States Toward Highly Efficient Perovskite Photovoltaics

Due to their greater opt electric performance, perovskite photovoltaics (PVs) present huge potential to be commercialized. Perovskite PV's high theoretical efficiency expands the available development area. The passivation of defects in perovskite films is crucial for approaching the theoretical limit. In addition to creating efficient passivation techniques, it is essential to direct the passivation approach by getting precise and real-time information on the trap states through measurements. Therefore, it is necessary to establish quantitative characterization methods for the trap states in energy and 3D spaces. The authors cover the characterization of the spatial and energy distributions of trap states in this article with an eye toward high-efficiency perovskite photovoltaics. After going over the strategies that have been created for characterizing and evaluating trap states, the authors will concentrate on how to direct the creative development of characterization techniques for trap states assessment and highlight the opportunities and challenges of future development. The 3D space and energy distribution mappings of trap states are anticipated to be realized. The review will give key guiding importance for further approaching the theoretical efficiency of perovskite photovoltaics, offering some future research direction and technological assistance for the development of appropriate targeted passivation technologies.

Noble Gas Functional Defect with Unusual Relaxation Pattern in Solids

The conventional understanding has always been that noble gases are chemically inert and do not affect materials properties. This belief has led to their use as a standard reference in various experimental applications through noble gas implantation. However, in our research, using first-principles calculations, we delve into the effects of noble gas defects on the properties of several functional oxides, thereby questioning this long-held assumption. We provide evidence that noble gases can indeed serve as functional defects. They have the potential to decentralize the localized defect states and prompt a shift of electrons from the localized state to the conduction band. Our investigation unveils that noble gas defects can indeed significantly alter the material properties. Thus, we underscore the importance of factoring in such defects when assessing material properties.

Temperature-Dependent Intensity Modulated Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence Microscopy for High Resolution Mapping of Charge Carrier Dynamics

We present a temperature-dependent intensity modulated two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy technique that enables high-resolution quantitative mapping of charge carrier dynamics in perovskite microcrystal film. By disentangling the emission into harmonics of the excitation modulation frequency, we analyze the first and second order charge carrier recombination processes, including potential accumulation effects. Our approach allows for a quantitative comparison of different emission channels at a micrometer resolution. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, we applied it to a methylammonium lead bromide perovskite microcrystal film. We investigated the temperature-dependent modulated imaging, encompassing the exciton dissociation-association and charge carrier trapping-detrapping equilibrium. Additionally, we explored the potential freezing out of traps and the phase transition occurring at low temperatures.

Advances on the Application of Wide Band-Gap Insulating Materials in Perovskite Solar Cells

In recent years, the development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is advancing rapidly with their recorded photoelectric conversion efficiency reaching 25.8%. However, for the commercialization of PSCs, it is also necessary to solve their stability issue. In order to improve the device performance, various additives and interface modification strategies have been proposed. While, in many cases, they can guarantee a significant increase in efficiency, but not ensure improved stability. Therefore, materials that improve the device efficiency and stability simultaneously are urgently needed. Some wide band-gap insulating materials with stable physical and chemical properties are promising alternative materials. In this review, the application of wide band-gap insulating materials in PSCs, including their preparation methods, working roles, and mechanisms are described, which will promote the commercial application of PSCs.

Tailoring the solar cell efficiency of Y-series based non-fullerene acceptors through end cap modification

Y-series-based non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) have achieved significant deliberation by chemists and physicists because the promising optical and photochemical properties associated with high-performance OSCs can be further tuned through end-capped modification. In this work, such modifications of Y-series benzothiadiazole-based NFAs were accomplished theoretically to propose new acceptors for photovoltaic cells (PVCs). The recently synthesized Y-series non-fullerene acceptor m-BTP-PhC6 was taken as a reference acceptor. We designed five new acceptors (BTP1-BTP5) through the structural modification at both ends of acceptor groups and evaluated their performance by applying DFT and TD-DFT. The newly engineered molecules exhibited a narrower bandgap (E_g) than the reference (R) resulting in better intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). Further, the designed acceptors expressed the maximum absorption in the region of 600-800 nm revealing a redshift in their absorption spectrum. Low excitation energy and low exciton binding energy were noted for designed acceptors confirming them as better candidates for high PCE of solar cells. Low reorganizational energy for the mobility of holes and electrons was also observed for the designed molecules, indicating improved charge transfer properties. The newly tailored acceptor BTP4 was found to be the promising candidate among all acceptors because of lower bandgap, lower exciton binding energy, reorganizational energy, and redshift of the absorption spectrum. The complex analysis of BTP4 with donor polymer PTB7-Th and PM6 was executed at the same DFT level. Furthermore, FMOs studies showed relatively rich electron density in the acceptor groups of LUMO as compared to the reference molecule. The overall theoretical results of this study showed that the designed acceptors played a productive and effective role in uplifting the efficiency of fullerene-free energy devices.

Polaron states of the full-configuration defects in metal halide perovskites

The systematical analysis for varieties of defects with different depths and lattice relaxation strengths in metal halide perovskites (MHPs) is a challenging task. Here, we study the energy shifts of the full-configuration defects due to the polaron effect based on the all-coupling variational method in MHPs, where these polaron states are formed stemming from different defect species coupling with the longitudinal optical phonon modes via Fro¨hlich mechanism. We find that the polaron effect results in defect levels varying from tens to several hundreds of meV, which are very close to the correction of defect levels due to the defect-polaron effect, especially for these defects migration proved in the recent experiments in MHPs. These results provide the significant enlightenment not only for analyzing the radiation and non-radiation processes of carriers mediated by defects, but also for optimizing defect effect in the photovoltaic and photoelectric devices based on MHPs materials.

Charge Carriers Trapping by the Full-Configuration Defects in Metal Halide Perovskites Quantum Dots

Metal halide perovskites quantum dots (MHPQDs) have aroused enormous interest in the photovoltaic and photoelectric disciplines because of their marvelous properties and size characteristics. However, one of the key problems of how to systematically analyze charge carriers trapped by defects is still a challenging task. Here, we study multiphonon processes of the charge carrier trapping by various defects in MHPQDs based on the well-known Huang-Rhys model, in which a method of a full-configuration defect, including different defect species with variable depth and lattice relaxation strength, is developed by introducing a localization parameter in the quantum defect model. With the help of this method, these fast trapping channels for charge carriers transferring from the quantum dot ground state to different defects are found. Furthermore, the dependence of the trapping time on the radius of quantum dot, the defect depth, and temperature is given. These results not only enrich the knowledge of charge carrier trapping processes by defects, but also bring light to the designs of MHPQDs-based photovoltaic and photoelectric devices.

Physics of defects in metal halide perovskites

Metal halide perovskites are widely used in optoelectronic devices, including solar cells, photodetectors, and light-emitting diodes. Defects in this class of low-temperature solution-processed semiconductors play significant roles in the optoelectronic properties and performance of devices based on these semiconductors. Investigating the defect properties provides not only insight into the origin of the outstanding performance of perovskite optoelectronic devices but also guidance for further improvement of performance. Defects in perovskites have been intensely studied. Here, we review the progress in defect-related physics and techniques for perovskites. We survey the theoretical and computational results of the origin and properties of defects in perovskites. The underlying mechanisms, functions, advantages, and limitations of trap state characterization techniques are discussed. We introduce the effect of defects on the performance of perovskite optoelectronic devices, followed by a discussion of the mechanism of defect treatment. Finally, we summarize and present key challenges and opportunities of defects and their role in the further development of perovskite optoelectronic devices.

Geometric Optimization of Perovskite Solar Cells with Metal Oxide Charge Transport Layers

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a promising area of research among different new generations of photovoltaic technologies. Their manufacturing costs make them appealing in the PV industry compared to their alternatives. Although PSCs offer high efficiency in thin layers, they are still in the development phase. Hence, optimizing the thickness of each of their layers is a challenging research area. In this paper, we investigate the effect of the thickness of each layer on the photoelectric parameters of n-ZnO/p-CH₃NH₃PbI₃/p-NiO_x solar cell through various simulations. Using the Sol-Gel method, PSC structure can be formed in different thicknesses. Our aim is to identify a functional connection between those thicknesses and the optimum open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current. Simulation results show that the maximum efficiency is obtained using a perovskite layer thickness of 200 nm, an electronic transport layer (ETL) thickness of 60 nm, and a hole transport layer (HTL) thickness of 20 nm. Furthermore, the output power, fill factor, open-circuit voltage, and short-circuit current of this structure are 18.9 mW/cm², 76.94%, 1.188 V, and 20.677 mA/cm², respectively. The maximum open-circuit voltage achieved by a solar cell with perovskite, ETL and HTL layer thicknesses of (200 nm, 60 nm, and 60 nm) is 1.2 V. On the other hand, solar cells with the following thicknesses, 800 nm, 80 nm, and 40 nm, and 600 nm, 80 nm, and 80 nm, achieved a maximum short-circuit current density of 21.46 mA/cm² and a fill factor of 83.35%. As a result, the maximum value of each of the photoelectric parameters is found in structures of different thicknesses. These encouraging results are another step further in the design and manufacturing journey of PSCs as a promising alternative to silicon PV.

Universal Dynamic Liquid Interface for Healing Perovskite Solar Cells

Healing charge-selective contact interfaces in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) highly determines the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability. However, the state-of-the-art strategies are often static by one-off formation of a functional interlayer, which delivers fixed interfacial properties during the subsequent operation. As a result, defects formed in-service will gradually deteriorate the photovoltaic performances. Herein, a dynamic healing interface (DHI) is presented by incorporating a low-melting-point small molecule onto perovskite film surface for highly efficient and stable PSCs. Arising from the reduced non-radiative recombination, the DHI boosts the PCE to 12.05% for an all-inorganic CsPbIBr₂ solar cell and 14.14% for a CsPbI₂ Br cell, as well as 23.37% for an FA_0.92 MA_0.08 PbI₃ (FA = formamidinium, MA = methylammonium) cell. The solid-to-liquid phase conversion of DHI at elevated temperature causes a longitudinal infiltration into the bulk perovskite film to maximize the charge extraction, passivate defects at grain boundaries, and suppress ion migration. Furthermore, the stability is remarkably enhanced under air, heat, and persistent light-irradiation conditions, paving a universal strategy for advanced perovskite-based optoelectronics.

Necessity of Quantifying Urbach Energy through Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy

In this Letter, we introduce scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) to quantify the Urbach energy (E_U) in disordered semiconductors. The technique enabled us to gain precise information on the extending component of conduction and valence band-edges responsible for Urbach tailing, individually; such information has been obtained from the width of band-energy-histograms drawn from STS studies at many different points. STS, as a probing method at the microscopic scale to derive E_U, is in contrast to commonly employed optical spectroscopy studies which provide information at the macroscopic scale. A comparison between Urbach energy values from optical studies and distribution of band-edges obtained from STS revealed the inherent inaccuracies involved in the optical characterization process. We have considered copper oxide (Cu_xO) thin films in this regard; we show that through STS and the associated density of state (DOS) spectra, we can derive accurate information on the band-edges' distribution leading to E_U in different phases of the binary oxide thin films.

Silver cluster doped graphyne (GY) with outstanding non-linear optical properties

This research study addresses the computational simulations of optical and nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics of silver (Ag) cluster doped graphyne (GY) complexes. By precisely following DFT and TD-DFT hypothetical computations, in-depth characterization of GY@Agcenter, GY@Agside, GY@2Agperpendicular, GY@2Agabove, and GY@3Agcenter is accomplished using CAM-B3LYP/LANL2DZ while the CAM-B3LYP/mixed basis set is used for study of 2GY@Agcenter, 2GY@Agside, 2GY@2Agperpendicular, 2GY@2Agabove, and 2GY@3Agcenter. The effects of various graphyne surface based complexes on hyperpolarizabilities, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), density of states (DOS), absorption maximum (λ max), binding energy (E b), dipole moment (μ), electron density distribution map (EDDM), transition density matrix (TDM), electrostatic potential (ESP), vertical ionization energy (E VI) and electrical conductivity (σ) have been investigated. Infrared (IR), non-covalent interaction (NCI) analysis accompanied by isosurface are performed to study the vibrational frequencies and type of interaction. Doping strategies in all complexes impressively reformed charge transfer characteristics such as narrowing band gap (E g) in the range of 2.58-4.73 eV and enhanced λ max lying in the range of 368-536 nm as compared to pure GY with 5.78 eV E g and 265 nm λ max for (GY@Agcenter-GY@3Agcenter). In the case of (2GY@Agcenter-2GY@3Agcenter), when compared to 2GY with 5.58 eV E g and 275 nm absorption, maximum doping techniques have more effectively modified λ max in the region of 400-548 nm and E g, which is in the order of 2.55-4.62 eV. GY@3Agcenter and 2GY@3Agcenter reflected a noteworthy increment in linear polarizability α O (436.90 au) and (586 au) and the first hyperpolarizability β O (5048.77 au) and (17 270 au) because of their lowest excitation energy (ΔE) when studied in comparison with GY (α O = 281.54 and β O = 0.21 au) and 2GY surface (α O = 416 and β O = 0.06 au). Focusing on harmony between the tiny Ag clusters and graphyne surface as well as their influences on NLO properties, graphyne doping using its two-unit cells (2GY) is found to be expedient for the development of future nanoscale devices.

Photoinduced Dynamic Defects Responsible for the Giant, Reversible, and Bidirectional Light-Soaking Effect in Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) exhibit large, reversible, and bidirectional light-soaking effects (LSEs); however, these anomalous LSEs are poorly understood, limiting the stability engineering and commercialization. We present a unified defect theory for the LSEs in lead halide perovskites by reconciling their defect photochemistry, ionic migration, and carrier dynamics. We considered typical detrimental defects (I_Pb, I_i, V_I) and observed that two atomic configurations were favored, where the carrier lifetime of one configuration was nearly 1 order of magnitude longer than that in the other. First-principles calculations showed that light illumination promotes ion-diffusion-assisted transitions from energetically stable configurations to metastable configurations, which are converted back to stable configurations in the dark. Fermi-level-dependent formation energies of stable/metastable configurations were used to rationalize contradictory experimental results of anomalous LSEs in PSCs observed in various studies, thus providing insights for minimizing the LSE to achieve high-performance stable PSCs.

Temperature Coefficients of Perovskite Photovoltaics for Energy Yield Calculations

Temperature coefficients for maximum power (T _PCE), open circuit voltage (V _OC), and short circuit current (J _SC) are standard specifications included in data sheets for any commercially available photovoltaic module. To date, there has been little work on determining the T _PCE for perovskite photovoltaics (PV). We fabricate perovskite solar cells with a T _PCE of -0.08 rel %/°C and then disentangle the temperature-dependent effects of the perovskite absorber, contact layers, and interfaces by comparing different device architectures and using drift-diffusion modeling. A main factor contributing to the small T _PCE of perovskites is their low intrinsic carrier concentrations with respect to Si and GaAs, which can be explained by its wider band gap. We demonstrate that the unique increase in E _g with increasing temperatures seen for perovskites results in a reduction in J _SC but positively influences V _OC. The current limiting factors for the T _PCE in perovskite PV are identified to originate from interfacial effects.

Low-Temperature Induced Enhancement of Photoelectric Performance in Semiconducting Nanomaterials

The development of light-electricity conversion in nanomaterials has drawn intensive attention to the topic of achieving high efficiency and environmentally adaptive photoelectric technologies. Besides traditional improving methods, we noted that low-temperature cooling possesses advantages in applicability, stability and nondamaging characteristics. Because of the temperature-related physical properties of nanoscale materials, the working mechanism of cooling originates from intrinsic characteristics, such as crystal structure, carrier motion and carrier or trap density. Here, emerging advances in cooling-enhanced photoelectric performance are reviewed, including aspects of materials, performance and mechanisms. Finally, potential applications and existing issues are also summarized. These investigations on low-temperature cooling unveil it as an innovative strategy to further realize improvement to photoelectric conversion without damaging intrinsic components and foresee high-performance applications in extreme conditions.

Revealing the Degradation and Self-Healing Mechanisms in Perovskite Solar Cells by Sub-Bandgap External Quantum Efficiency Spectroscopy

Ion dissociation has been identified to determine the intrinsic stability of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs), but the underlying degradation mechanism is still elusive. Herein, by combining highly sensitive sub-bandgap external quantum efficiency (s-EQE) spectroscopy, impedance analysis, and theoretical calculations, the evolution of defect states in PVSCs during the degradation can be monitored. It is found that the degradation of PVSCs can be divided into three steps: 1) dissociation of ions from perovskite lattices, 2) migration of dissociated ions, and 3) consumption of I^- by reacting with metal electrode. Importantly, step (3) is found to be crucial as it will accelerate the first two steps and lead to continuous degradation. By replacing the metal with more chemically robust indium tin oxide (ITO), it is found that the dissociated ions under light soaking will only saturate at the perovskite/ITO interface. Importantly, the dissociated ions will subsequently restore to the corresponding vacancies under dark condition to heal the perovskite and photovoltaic performance. Such shuttling of mobile ions without consumption in the ITO-contact PVSCs results in harvesting-rest-recovery cycles in natural day/night operation. It is envisioned that the mechanism of the intrinsic perovskite material degradation reported here will lead to clearer research directions toward highly stable PVSCs.

Realizing Reduced Imperfections via Quantum Dots Interdiffusion in High Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells

Realization of reduced ionic (cationic and anionic) defects at the surface and grain boundaries (GBs) of perovskite films is vital to boost the power conversion efficiency of organic-inorganic halide perovskite (OIHP) solar cells. Although numerous strategies have been developed, effective passivation still remains a great challenge due to the complexity and diversity of these defects. Herein, a solid-state interdiffusion process using multi-cation hybrid halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) is introduced as a strategy to heal the ionic defects at the surface and GBs. It is found that the solid-state interdiffusion process leads to a reduction in OIHP shallow defects. In addition, Cs⁺ distribution in QDs greatly influences the effectiveness of ionic defect passivation with significant enhancement to all photovoltaic performance characteristics observed on treating the solar cells with Cs_0.05 (MA_0.17 FA_0.83 )_0.95 PbBr₃ (abbreviated as QDs-Cs5). This enables power conversion efficiency (PCE) exceeding 21% to be achieved with more than 90% of its initial PCE retained on exposure to continuous illumination of more than 550 h.

Understanding the thermal degradation mechanism of perovskite solar cells via dielectric and noise measurements

Long term stability is a major obstacle to the success of perovskite solar cell (PSC) photovoltaic technology. PSC performance deteriorates significantly in the presence of humidity, oxygen and exposure to UV light and heat. Here the change in charge transport properties of PSC with temperature and the associated significant drop in device performance at high temperature have been investigated. The latter is shown to be primarily due to an increase in charge carrier recombination, which impacts the open-circuit voltage. To understand the pathway of temperature-induced degradation, low-frequency 1/f noise characteristics, and the capacitance-frequency, as well as capacitance-voltage characteristics have been investigated under various conditions. The results show that at high operating temperature accumulation of ions and charge carriers at the interface increase the surface recombination. Aging experiments at different temperatures show high stability of PSCs up to temperature <70 °C, but a drastic, irreversible degradation occurs at higher temperature (≥80 °C). Low-frequency 1/f noise study revealed that the magnitude of normalized noise in degraded perovskite solar cells is four orders of magnitude higher than the pristine device. This study shows the power of low-frequency noise measurement technique as a highly sensitive non-invasive tool to study the degradation mechanism of PSCs.

Deciphering the effect of traps on electronic charge transport properties of methylammonium lead tribromide perovskite

Halide perovskites have undergone remarkable developments as highly efficient optoelectronic materials for a variety of applications. Several studies indicated the critical role of defects on the performance of perovskite devices. However, the parameters of defects and their interplay with free charge carriers remain unclear. In this study, we explored the dynamics of free holes in methylammonium lead tribromide (MAPbBr₃) single crystals using the time-of-flight (ToF) current spectroscopy. By combining ToF spectroscopy and Monte Carlo simulation, three energy states were detected in the bandgap of MAPbBr₃ In addition, we found the trapping and detrapping rates of free holes ranging from a few microseconds to hundreds of microseconds. Contrary to previous studies, we revealed a strong detrapping activity of traps. We showed that these traps substantially affect the transport properties of MAPbBr₃, including mobility and mobility-lifetime product. Our results provide an insight on charge transport properties of perovskite semiconductors.

Progress in Materials Development for the Rapid Efficiency Advancement of Perovskite Solar Cells

The efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has undergone rapid advancement due to great progress in materials development over the past decade and is under extensive study. Despite the significant challenges (e.g., recombination and hysteresis), both the single-junction and tandem cells have gradually approached the theoretical efficiency limit. Herein, an overview is given of how passivation and crystallization reduce recombination and thus improve the device performance; how the materials of dominant layers (hole transporting layer (HTL), electron transporting layer (ETL), and absorber layer) affect the quality and optoelectronic properties of single-junction PSCs; and how the materials development contributes to rapid efficiency enhancement of perovskite/Si tandem devices with monolithic and mechanically stacked configurations. The interface optimization, novel materials development, mixture strategy, and bandgap tuning are reviewed and analyzed. This is a review of the major factors determining efficiency, and how further improvements can be made on the performance of PSCs.

Reducing Detrimental Defects for High-Performance Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

In several photovoltaic (PV) technologies, the presence of electronic defects within the semiconductor band gap limit the efficiency, reproducibility, as well as lifetime. Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have drawn great attention because of their excellent photovoltaic properties that can be achieved even without a very strict film-growth control processing. Much has been done theoretically in describing the different point defects in MHPs. Herein, we discuss the experimental challenges in thoroughly characterizing the defects in MHPs such as, experimental assignment of the type of defects, defects densities, and the energy positions within the band gap induced by these defects. The second topic of this Review is passivation strategies. Based on a literature survey, the different types of defects that are important to consider and need to be minimized are examined. A complete fundamental understanding of defect nature in MHPs is needed to further improve their optoelectronic functionalities.

Relating Defect Luminescence and Nonradiative Charge Recombination in MAPbI3 Perovskite Films

Nonradiative losses in semiconductors are related to defects. At cryogenic temperatures, defect-related photoluminescence (PL) at energies lower than the band-edge PL is observed in methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite. We applied multispectral PL imaging to samples prepared by two different procedures and exhibiting 1 order of magnitude different PL quantum yield (PLQY). The high-PLQY sample showed concentration of the emitting defect sites around 10¹²-10¹³ cm^-3. No correlation between PLQY and the relative intensity of the defect emission was found when micrometer-sized local regions of the same sample were compared. However, a clear positive correlation between the lower PLQY and higher defect emission was observed when two preparation methods were contrasted. Therefore, although the emissive defects are not connected directly with the nonradiative centers and may be spatially separated at the nano scale, chemical processes during the perovskite synthesis promote/prevent formation of both types of defects at the same time.

Effects of intrinsic and atmospherically induced defects in narrow bandgap (FASnI3)x(MAPbI3)1-x perovskite films and solar cells

Narrow bandgap mixed tin (Sn) + lead (Pb) perovskites are necessary for the bottom sub-cell absorber in high efficiency all-perovskite polycrystalline tandem solar cells. We report on the impact of mixed cation composition and atmospheric exposure of perovskite films on sub-gap absorption in films and performance of solar cells based on narrow bandgap mixed formamidinium (FA) + methylammonium (MA) and Sn + Pb halide perovskites, (FASnI₃)_x(MAPbI₃)_1-x. Structural and optical properties of 0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 (FASnI₃)_x(MAPbI₃)_1-x perovskite thin film absorbers with bandgaps ranging from 1.25 eV (x = 0.6) to 1.34 eV (x = 0.3) are probed with and without atmospheric exposure. Urbach energy, which quantifies the amount of sub-gap absorption, is tracked for pristine perovskite films as a function of composition, with x = 0.6 and 0.3 demonstrating the lowest and highest Urbach energies of 23 meV and 36 meV, respectively. Films with x = 0.5 and 0.6 compositions show less degradation upon atmospheric exposure than higher or lower Sn-content films having greater sub-gap absorption. The corresponding solar cells based on the x = 0.6 absorber show the highest device performance. Despite having a low Urbach energy, higher Sn-content solar cells show reduced device performances as the amount of degradation via oxidation is the most substantial.

Synergy between Ion Migration and Charge Carrier Recombination in Metal-Halide Perovskites

Charge carrier recombination plays a vital role in the CH₃NH₃PbI₃ perovskite solar cell. By investigating a possible synergy between ion migration and charge carrier recombination, we demonstrate that the nonradiative recombination accelerates by an order of magnitude during iodide migration. The migration induces lattice distortion that brings electrons and holes close to each other and increases their electrostatic interactions. The wave function localization in the same spatial region, and the enhanced lattice and iodide movements increase the nonadiabatic coupling. At the same time, quantum coherence lasts longer, because electron and hole energy levels become correlated. All these factors greatly increase the recombination rate. Moreover, the energy level of the iodide vacancy created during the migration moves from inside the conduction band in the equilibrated structure into the band gap, acting as a typical efficient nonradiative charge recombination center. Our work shows that the different dynamic processes are strongly correlated in halide perovskites and demonstrates that defects, considered to be benign, can become very detrimental under non-equilibrium conditions. The reported results strongly suggest that ion migration should be avoided in halide perovskites, both for its own reasons, such as the large current-voltage hysteresis, and because it greatly accelerates charge carrier losses.

Defect and Contact Passivation for Perovskite Solar Cells

Metal-halide perovskites are rapidly emerging as an important class of photovoltaic absorbers that may enable high-performance solar cells at affordable cost. Thanks to the appealing optoelectronic properties of these materials, tremendous progress has been reported in the last few years in terms of power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), now with record values in excess of 24%. Nevertheless, the crystalline lattice of perovskites often includes defects, such as interstitials, vacancies, and impurities; at the grain boundaries and surfaces, dangling bonds can also be present, which all contribute to nonradiative recombination of photo-carriers. On device level, such recombination undesirably inflates the open-circuit voltage deficit, acting thus as a significant roadblock toward the theoretical efficiency limit of 30%. Herein, the focus is on the origin of the various voltage-limiting mechanisms in PSCs, and possible mitigation strategies are discussed. Contact passivation schemes and the effect of such methods on the reduction of hysteresis are described. Furthermore, several strategies that demonstrate how passivating contacts can increase the stability of PSCs are elucidated. Finally, the remaining key challenges in contact design are prioritized and an outlook on how passivating contacts will contribute to further the progress toward market readiness of high-efficiency PSCs is presented.

Low-Frequency Carrier Kinetics in Perovskite Solar Cells

Hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells have emerged as leading candidates for third-generation photovoltaic technology. Despite the rapid improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) for perovskite solar cells in recent years, the low-frequency carrier kinetics that underlie practical roadblocks such as hysteresis and degradation remain relatively poorly understood. In an effort to bridge this knowledge gap, we perform here correlated low-frequency noise (LFN) and impedance spectroscopy (IS) characterization that elucidates carrier kinetics in operating perovskite solar cells. Specifically, we focus on planar cell geometries with a SnO₂ electron transport layer and two different hole transport layers-namely, poly(triarylamine) (PTAA) and spiro-OMeTAD. PTAA and spiro-OMeTAD cells with moderate PCEs of 5-12% possess a Lorentzian feature at ∼200 Hz in LFN measurements that corresponds to a crossover from electrode to dielectric polarization. In comparison, spiro-OMeTAD cells with high PCEs (>15%) show 4 orders of magnitude lower LFN amplitude and are accompanied by a cyclostationary process. Through a systematic study of more than a dozen solar cells, we establish a correlation with noise amplitude, PCE, and fill factor. Overall, this work establishes correlated LFN and IS as an effective methodology for quantifying low-frequency carrier kinetics in perovskite solar cells, thereby providing new physical insights that can rationally guide ongoing efforts to improve device performance, reproducibility, and stability.

Electronic Traps and Their Correlations to Perovskite Solar Cell Performance via Compositional and Thermal Annealing Controls

Herein, underlying factors for enabling efficient and stable performance of perovskite solar cells are studied through nanostructural controls of organic-inorganic halide perovskites. Namely, MAPbI₃, (FA_0.83MA_0.17)Pb(I_0.83Br_0.17)₃, and (Cs_0.10FA_0.75MA_0.15)Pb(I_0.85Br_0.15)₃ perovskites (abbreviated as MA, FAMA, and CsFAMA, respectively) are examined with a grain growth control through thermal annealing. FAMA- and CsFAMA-based cells result in stable photovoltaic performance, while MA cells are sensitively dependent on the perovskite grain size dominated by annealing time. Micro-/nanoscopic features are comprehensively analyzed to unravel the origin that is directly correlated to the cell performance with the applications of electronic-trap characterizations such as photoconductive noise microscopy and capacitance analyses. It is revealed that CsFAMA has a lower trap density compared to MA and FAMA through the analyses of 1/ f noises and trapping/detrapping capacitances. Also, an open-circuit voltage ( V_oc) change is correlated to the variation of trap states during the shelf-life test: FAMA and CsFAMA cells with the negligible change of V_oc over weeks exhibit trap states shifting toward the band edge, although the power-conversion efficiencies are clearly reduced. The origins that critically affect the solar cell performance through the characterizations of shallow/deep traps with additional mobile defects in the perovskite and interfaces are discussed.

Perovskite-Polymer Blends Influencing Microstructures, Nonradiative Recombination Pathways, and Photovoltaic Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells

Solar cells based on organic-inorganic halide perovskites are now leading the photovoltaic technologies because of their high power conversion efficiency. Recently, there have been debates on the microstructure-related defects in metal halide perovskites (grain size, grain boundaries, etc.) and a widespread view is that large grains are a prerequisite to suppress nonradiative recombination and improve photovoltaic performance, although opinions against it also exist. Herein, we employ blends of methylammonium lead iodide perovskites with an insulating polymer (polyvinylpyrrolidone) that offer the possibility to tune the grain size in order to obtain a fundamental understanding of the photoresponse at the microscopic level. We provide, for the first time, spatially resolved details of the microstructures in such blend systems via Raman mapping, light beam-induced current imaging, and conductive atomic force microscopy. Although the polymer blend systems systematically alter the morphology by creating small grains (more grain boundaries), they reduce nonradiative recombination within the film and enhance its spatial homogeneity of radiative recombination. We attribute this to a reduction in the density of bulk trap states, as evidenced by an order of magnitude higher photoluminescence intensity and a significantly higher open-circuit voltage when the polymer is incorporated into the perovskite films. The solar cells employing blend systems also show nearly hysteresis-free power conversion efficiency ∼17.5%, as well as a remarkable shelf-life stability over 100 days.

Communicating Two States in Perovskite Revealed by Time-Resolved Photoluminescence Spectroscopy

Organic-inorganic perovskite as a promising candidate for solar energy harvesting has attracted immense interest for its low-cost preparation and extremely high quantum efficiency. However, the fundamental understanding of the photophysics in perovskite remains elusive. In this work, we have revealed two distinct states in MAPbI₃ thin films at low temperature through time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy (TRPL). In particular, we observed a photo-induced carrier injection from the high energy (HE) state to the low energy (LE) state which has a longer lifetime. The strong interaction between the two states, evidenced by the injection kinetics, can be sensitively controlled through the excitation power. Understanding of the interacting two-states not only sheds light on the long PL lifetime in perovskite but also helps to understand the different behavior of perovskite in response to different excitation power. Further efforts in modifying the low energy state could significantly improve the quantum efficiency and lead to novel application in optoelectronics based on perovskite.

Kondo-like transport and magnetic field effect of charge carrier fluctuations in granular aluminum oxide thin films

Granular aluminum oxide is an attractive material for superconducting quantum electronics. However, its low-temperature normal state transport properties are still not fully understood, while they could be related to the unconventional phenomenon of the superconductivity in this material. In order to obtain useful information on this aspect, a detailed study of charge carrier fluctuations has been performed in granular aluminum oxide films. The results of electric noise measurements indicate the presence of a Kondo-type spin-flip scattering mechanism for the conducting electrons in the normal state, at low temperatures. Moreover, the magnetic field dependence of the noise amplitude suggests that interface magnetic moments are the main source of fluctuations. The identification of the nature of fluctuation processes is a mandatory requirement for the improvement of quality and performance of quantum devices.

Trap-Limited Dynamics of Excited Carriers and Interpretation of the Photoluminescence Decay Kinetics in Metal Halide Perovskites

Interpretation of the photoluminescence (PL) decay kinetics in metal halide perovskites (MHPs) is extremely important for understanding the mechanisms and control of charge recombination in these promising photovoltaic and optoelectronic materials. In this work, we give a review of current models describing the PL decay kinetics in MHP layers and nanocrystals with particular attention to the interpretation of long-lived PL decay components (hundreds of nanoseconds to microseconds). First, we analyze phenomenological photophysical models based on the rate equations, which describe the charge carrier recombination in MHP layers as an exclusively intrinsic bulk process. An important role of the carrier diffusion and nonradiative recombination on the layer surfaces is then discussed. A recently published approach is then analyzed, in the framework of which the observed long-lived components of PL decay kinetics in MHP nanocrystals are described in terms of the delayed luminescence mechanism arising due to the processes of multiple trapping and detrapping of carriers by shallow nonquenching traps. The possible origin of the shallow traps and perspectives to include the carrier trapping and detrapping processes in a model describing PL kinetics in MHP layers are discussed.

Record Efficiency Stable Flexible Perovskite Solar Cell Using Effective Additive Assistant Strategy

Even though the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of rigid perovskite solar cells is increased to 22.7%, the PCE of flexible perovskite solar cells (F-PSCs) is still lower. Here, a novel dimethyl sulfide (DS) additive is developed to effectively improve the performance of the F-PSCs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals that the DS additive reacts with Pb²⁺ to form a chelated intermediate, which significantly slows down the crystallization rate, leading to large grain size and good crystallinity for the resultant perovskite film. In fact, the trap density of the perovskite film prepared using the DS additive is reduced by an order of magnitude compared to the one without it, demonstrating that the additive effectively retards transformation kinetics during the thin film formation process. As a result, the PCE of the flexible devices increases to 18.40%, with good mechanical tolerance, the highest reported so far for the F-PSCs. Meanwhile, the environmental stability of the F-PSCs significantly enhances by 1.72 times compared to the device without the additive, likely due to the large grain size that suppresses perovskite degradation at grain boundaries. The present strategy will help guide development of high efficiency F-PSCs for practical applications.

Statistics of the Auger Recombination of Electrons and Holes via Defect Levels in the Band Gap-Application to Lead-Halide Perovskites

Recent evidence for bimolecular nonradiative recombination in lead-halide perovskites poses the question for a mechanistic origin of such a recombination term. A possible mechanism is Auger recombination involving two free charge carriers and a trapped charge-carrier. To study the influence of trap-assisted Auger recombination on bimolecular recombination in lead-halide perovskites, we combine estimates of the transition rates with a detailed balance compatible approach of calculating the occupation statistics of defect levels using a similar approach as for the well-known Shockley-Read-Hall recombination statistics. We find that the kinetics resulting from trap-assisted Auger recombination encompasses three different regimes: low injection, high injection, and saturation. Although the saturation regime with a recombination rate proportional to the square of free carrier concentration might explain the nonradiative bimolecular recombination in general, we show that the necessary trap density is higher than reported. Thus, we conclude that Auger recombination via traps is most likely not the explanation for the observed nonradiative bimolecular recombination in CH₃NH₃PbI₃ and related materials.

Characterization of Low-Frequency Excess Noise in CH3NH3PbI3-Based Solar Cells Grown by Solution and Hybrid Chemical Vapor Deposition Techniques

In this study, detailed investigations of low-frequency noise (LFN) characteristics of hybrid chemical vapor deposition (HCVD)- and solution-grown CH₃NH₃PbI₃ (MAPI) solar cells are reported. It has been shown that LFN is a ubiquitous phenomenon observed in all semiconductor devices. It is the smallest signal that can be measured from the device; hence, systematic characterization of the LFN properties can be utilized as a highly sensitive nondestructive tool for the characterization of material defects in the device. It has been demonstrated that the noise power spectral densities of the devices are critically dependent on the parameters of the fabrication process, including the growth ambient of the perovskite layer and the incorporation of the mesoscopic structures in the devices. Our experimental results indicated that the LFN arises from a thermally activated trapping and detrapping process, resulting in the corresponding fluctuations in the conductance of the device. The results show that the presence of oxygen in the growth ambient of the HCVD process and the inclusion of an mp-TiO₂ layer in the device structure are two important factors contributing to the substantial reduction in the density of the localized states in the MAPI devices. Furthermore, the lifetimes of the MAPI perovskite-based solar cells are strongly dependent on the material defect concentration. The degradation process is substantially more rapid for the devices with higher initial defect density compared to the devices prepared under optimized conditions and structure that exhibit substantially lower initial trap density.

Effect of Low Temperature on Charge Transport in Operational Planar and Mesoporous Perovskite Solar Cells

Low-temperature optoelectrical studies of perovskite solar cells using MAPbI₃ and mixed-perovskite absorbers implemented into planar and mesoporous architectures reveal fundamental charge transporting properties in fully assembled devices operating under light bias. Both types of devices exhibit inverse correlation of charge carrier lifetime as a function of temperature, extending carrier lifetimes upon temperature reduction, especially after exposure to high optical biases. Contribution of bimolecular channels to the overall recombination process should not be overlooked because the density of generated charge surpasses trap-filling concentration requirements. Bimolecular charge recombination coefficient in both device types is smaller than Langevin theory prediction, and its mean value is independent of the applied illumination intensity. In planar devices, charge extraction declines upon MAPbI₃ transition from a tetragonal to an orthorhombic phase, indicating a connection between the trapping/detrapping mechanism and temperature. Studies on charge extraction by linearly increasing voltage further support this assertion, as charge carrier mobility dependence on temperature follows multiple-trapping predictions for both device structures. The monotonously increasing trend following the rise in temperature opposes the behavior observed in neat perovskite films and indicates the importance of transporting layers and the effect they have on charge transport in fully assembled solar cells. Low-temperature phase transition shows no pattern of influence on thermally activated electron/hole transport.