Superior Stability and Efficiency Over 20% Perovskite Solar Cells Achieved by a Novel Molecularly Engineered Rutin-AgNPs/Thiophene Copolymer

Research progress of green antisolvent for perovskite solar cells

Conventional antisolvents such as chlorobenzene and benzotrifluoride are highly toxic and volatile, and therefore not preferred for large-scale fabrication. As such, green antisolvents are favored for the eco-friendly fabrication of perovskite films. This review primarily discusses the impact of various green antisolvents on the fabrication of thin perovskite films and analyzes the main chemical characteristics of these green antisolvents. It also interprets the impact of green antisolvent treatment on crystal growth and nucleation crystallization mechanisms. It introduces the effective fabrication of large-area devices using green antisolvents and analyzes the mechanisms by which green antisolvents enhance device stability. Subsequently, several green antisolvents capable of preparing highly stable and efficient devices are listed. Finally, we outline the key challenges and future prospects of antisolvent treatment. This review paves the way for green fabrication of industrial perovskite solar cells.

Dopant engineering for ZnO electron transport layer towards efficient perovskite solar cells

The conventional electron transport layer (ETL) TiO2 has been widely used in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which have produced exceptional power conversion efficiencies (PCE), allowing the technology to be highly regarded and propitious. Nevertheless, the recent high demand for energy harvesters in wearable electronics, aerospace, and building integration has led to the need for flexible solar cells. However, the conventional TiO2 ETL layer is less preferred, where a crystallization process at a temperature as high as 450 °C is required, which degrades the plastic substrate. Zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) as a simple and low-cost fabrication material may fulfil the need as an ETL, but they still suffer from low PCE due to atomic defect vacancy. To delve into the issue, several dopants have been reviewed as an additive to passivate or substitute the Zn2+ vacancies, thus enhancing the charge transport mechanism. This work thereby unravels and provides a clear insight into dopant engineering in ZnO NRs ETL for PSC.

Synthesis and numerical simulation of formamidinium-based perovskite solar cells: a predictable device performance at NIS-Egypt

Formamidinium lead triiodide (δ-FAPbI₃)-based perovskite solar cells showed remarkable potential as light harvesters for thin-film photovoltaics. Herein, the mechanochemical synthesis of δ-FAPbI₃, MAPbI₃, and mixed-cation FA_1-xMA_xPbI₃ with (x = 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7) perovskite materials were prepared as a novel green chemistry method for scaling up production. Crystallinity, phase identification, thermal stability, optoelectronic properties, and nanoscale composition are discussed. The results demonstrated that the prepared mixed-cation samples are enhanced in the visible absorption region and are consistent with previous works. The crystal structure of δ-FAPbI₃ was altered to a cubic structure due to the change in FA-cation. Moreover, the performance of [Formula: see text]-FA-based perovskites was investigated using the Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS-1D) software. The validity of the device simulation was confirmed by comparing it to real-world devices. The photovoltaic characteristics and impact of absorber thickness on device performance were explained. The [Formula: see text]-FA-based solar cell with a 50% MA-doped molar ratio shows a better performance with an efficiency of 26.22% compared to 8.43% for δ-FAPbI₃. The outcome results of this work confirm the beneficial effect of mixed cations on device operation and advance our knowledge of the numerical optimization of perovskite-based solar cells.

Lead-Free Perovskite Homojunction-Based HTM-Free Perovskite Solar Cells: Theoretical and Experimental Viewpoints

Simplifying the design of lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has drawn a lot of interest due to their low manufacturing cost and relative non-toxic nature. Focus has been placed mostly on reducing the toxic lead element and eliminating the requirement for expensive hole transport materials (HTMs). However, in terms of power conversion efficiency (PCE), the PSCs using all charge transport materials surpass the environmentally beneficial HTM-free PSCs. The low PCEs of the lead-free HTM-free PSCs could be linked to poorer hole transport and extraction as well as lower light harvesting. In this context, a lead-free perovskite homojunction-based HTM-free PSC was investigated, and the performance was then assessed using a Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS). A two-step method was employed to fabricate lead-free perovskite homojunction-based HTM-free PSCs in order to validate the simulation results. The simulation results show that high hole mobility and a narrow band gap of cesium tin iodide (CsSnI₃) boosted the hole collection and absorption spectrum, respectively. Additionally, the homojunction's built-in electric field, which was identified using SCAPS simulations, promoted the directed transport of the photo-induced charges, lowering carrier recombination losses. Homojunction-based HTM-free PSCs having a CsSnI₃ layer with a thickness of 100 nm, defect density of 10¹⁵ cm^-3, and interface defect density of 10¹⁸ cm^-3 were found to be capable of delivering high PCEs under a working temperature of 300 K. When compared to formamidinium tin iodide (FASnI₃)-based devices, the open-circuit voltage (V_oc), short-circuit density (J_sc), fill factor (FF), and PCE of FASnI₃/CsSnI₃ homojunction-based HTM-free PSCs were all improved from 0.66 to 0.78 V, 26.07 to 27.65 mA cm^-2, 76.37 to 79.74%, and 14.62 to 19.03%, respectively. In comparison to a FASnI₃-based device (PCE = 8.94%), an experimentally fabricated device using homojunction of FASnI₃/CsSnI₃ performs better with V_oc of 0.84 V, J_sc of 22.06 mA cm^-2, FF of 63.50%, and PCE of 11.77%. Moreover, FASnI₃/CsSnI₃-based PSC is more stable over time than its FASnI₃-based counterpart, preserving 89% of its initial PCE. These findings provide promising guidelines for developing highly efficient and environmentally friendly HTM-free PSCs based on perovskite homojunction.

Diethanolamine Modified Perovskite-Substrate Interface for Realizing Efficient ESL-Free PSCs

Simplifying device layout, particularly avoiding the complex fabrication steps and multiple high-temperature treatment requirements for electron-selective layers (ESLs) have made ESL-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) attractive. However, the poor perovskite/substrate interface and inadequate quality of solution-processed perovskite thin films induce inefficient interfacial-charge extraction, limiting the power conversion efficiency (PCEs) of ESL-free PSCs. A highly compact and homogenous perovskite thin film with large grains was formed here by inserting an interfacial monolayer of diethanolamine (DEA) molecules between the perovskite and ITO substrate. In addition, the DEA created a favorable dipole layer at the interface of perovskite and ITO substrate by molecular adsorption, which suppressed charge recombination. Comparatively, PSCs based on DEA-treated ITO substrates delivered PCEs of up to 20.77%, one of the highest among ESL-free PSCs. Additionally, this technique successfully elongates the lifespan of ESL-free PSCs as 80% of the initial PCE was maintained after 550 h under AM 1.5 G irradiation at ambient temperature.

Perovskite-Surface-Confined Grain Growth for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

The conventional post-annealing (CPA) process is frequently employed and regarded a crucial step for high-quality perovskite thin-films. However, most researchers end up with unwanted characteristics because controlling the evaporation rate of perovskite precursor solvents during heat treatment is difficult. Most perovskite thin-films result in rough surfaces with pinholes and small grains with multiple boundaries, if the evaporation of precursor solvents is not controlled in a timely manner, which negatively affects the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, we present a surface-confined post-annealing (SCPA) approach for controlling the evaporation of perovskite precursor solvents and promoting crystallinity, homogeneity, and surface morphology of the resulting perovskites. The SCPA method not only modulates the evaporation of residual solvents, resulting in pinhole-free thin-films with large grains and fewer grain boundaries, but it also reduces recombination sites and facilitates the transport of charges in the resulting perovskite thin-films. When the method is changed from CPA to SCPA, the power conversion efficiency of PSC improves from 18.94% to 21.59%. Furthermore, as compared to their CPA-based counterparts, SCPA-based PSCs have less hysteresis and increased long-term stability. The SCPA is a potentially universal method for improving the performance and stability of PSCs by modulating the quality of perovskite thin-films.

Guidelines for Fabricating Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells with Cu2O as the Hole Transport Material

Organic hole transport materials (HTMs) have been frequently used to achieve high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in regular perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, organic HTMs or their ingredients are costly and time-consuming to manufacture. Therefore, one of the hottest research topics in this area has been the quest for an efficient and economical inorganic HTM in PSCs. To promote efficient charge extraction and, hence, improve overall efficiency, it is crucial to look into the desirable properties of inorganic HTMs. In this context, a simulation investigation using a solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS) was carried out on the performance of regular PSCs using inorganic HTMs. Several inorganic HTMs, such as nickel oxide (NiO), cuprous oxide (Cu₂O), copper iodide (CuI), and cuprous thiocyanate (CuSCN), were incorporated in PSCs to explore matching HTMs that could add to the improvement in PCE. The simulation results revealed that Cu₂O stood out as the best alternative, with electron affinity, hole mobility, and acceptor density around 3.2 eV, 60 cm²V^-1s^-1, and 10¹⁸ cm^-3, respectively. Additionally, the results showed that a back electrode with high work-function was required to establish a reduced barrier Ohmic and Schottky contact, which resulted in efficient charge collection. In the simulation findings, Cu₂O-based PSCs with an efficiency of more than 25% under optimal conditions were identified as the best alternative for other counterparts. This research offers guidelines for constructing highly efficient PSCs with inorganic HTMs.

Machine Learning Approach to Delineate the Impact of Material Properties on Solar Cell Device Physics

In this research, solar cell capacitance simulator-one-dimensional (SCAPS-1D) software was used to build and probe nontoxic Cs-based perovskite solar devices and investigate modulations of key material parameters on ultimate power conversion efficiency (PCE). The input material parameters of the absorber Cs-perovskite layer were incrementally changed, and with the various resulting combinations, 63,500 unique devices were formed and probed to produce device PCE. Versatile and well-established machine learning algorithms were thereafter utilized to train, test, and evaluate the output dataset with a focused goal to delineate and rank the input material parameters for their impact on ultimate device performance and PCE. The most impactful parameters were then tuned to showcase unique ranges that would ultimately lead to higher device PCE values. As a validation step, the predicted results were confirmed against SCAPS simulated results as well, highlighting high accuracy and low error metrics. Further optimization of intrinsic material parameters was conducted through modulation of absorber layer thickness, back contact metal, and bulk defect concentration, resulting in an improvement in the PCE of the device from 13.29 to 16.68%. Overall, the results from this investigation provide much-needed insight and guidance for researchers at large, and experimentalists in particular, toward fabricating commercially viable nontoxic inorganic perovskite alternatives for the burgeoning solar industry.

Bio-inspired strategies for next-generation perovskite solar mobile power sources

Smart electronic devices are becoming ubiquitous due to many appealing attributes including portability, long operational time, rechargeability and compatibility with the user-desired form factor. Integration of mobile power sources (MPS) based on photovoltaic technologies with smart electronics will continue to drive improved sustainability and independence. With high efficiency, low cost, flexibility and lightweight features, halide perovskite photovoltaics have become promising candidates for MPS. Realization of these photovoltaic MPS (PV-MPS) with unconventionally extraordinary attributes requires new 'out-of-box' designs. Natural materials have provided promising designing solutions to engineer properties under a broad range of boundary conditions, ranging from molecules, proteins, cells, tissues, apparatus to systems in animals, plants, and humans optimized through billions of years of evolution. Applying bio-inspired strategies in PV-MPS could be biomolecular modification on crystallization at the atomic/meso-scale, bio-structural duplication at the device/system level and bio-mimicking at the functional level to render efficient charge delivery, energy transport/utilization, as well as stronger resistance against environmental stimuli (e.g., self-healing and self-cleaning). In this review, we discuss the bio-inspired/-mimetic structures, experimental models, and working principles, with the goal of revealing physics and bio-microstructures relevant for PV-MPS. Here the emphasis is on identifying the strategies and material designs towards improvement of the performance of emerging halide perovskite PVs and strategizing their bridge to future MPS.

Mostafa R, H. Zeenelabden H, M. Mabrouk M, Mourtada Elseman A, Gad N, El-Aasser M, M. Rashad M. Mixed 2D-3D Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

The 3D-perovskite halides have gained a considerable reputation versus their counterpart semiconductor materials since they achieved a remarkable high-power conversion efficiency of 25.2% within a decade. Perovskite solar cells also have some problems as lattice degradation and sensitivity against moisture, oxygen, and strong irradiation. The perovskite instability is the drawback in front of this emerging technology towards mass production and commercialization. 2D-perovskites, with the general formula A2Bn − 1MnX3n + 1, have been recently introduced to overcome some of the drawbacks of the stability of 3D-perovskites; however, this is at the expense of sacrificing a part of the power conversion efficiency. Mixed 2D/3D perovskites could solve this dilemma towards the way to high stability-efficiency perovskites. The research is expected to obtain highly stable and efficient mixed 2D/3D perovskite solar cells in the few coming years. This chapter reviews 2D-perovskites’ achieved progress, highlighting their properties, current trends, challenges, and future prospects.

Investigation of non-Pb all-perovskite 4-T mechanically stacked and 2-T monolithic tandem solar devices utilizing SCAPS simulation

SCAPS simulation was utilized to complement previously published perovskite-on-Si tandem solar devices and explore herein viable all-perovskite 4-T mechanically stacked and 2-T monolithic non-Pb tandem structures. CsSn0.5Ge0.5I3 (1.5 eV) was used as top cell wide bandgap absorber, while CsSnI3 (1.3 eV) was chosen as bottom cell low bandgap absorber. The top cell was simulated with AM 1.5G 1 Sun spectrum, and the bottom cell was simulated with the filtered spectrum from the top cell. To form a 2-T monolithic tandem device, ITO was used as the recombination layer; the current matching condition was investigated by varying the thickness of the absorber layers. For a current-matched device with a Jsc of 21.2 mA/cm2, optimized thicknesses of 450 nm and 815 nm were obtained for the top and bottom absorber layers, respectively. At these thicknesses, the PCEs of the top and bottom cells were 14.08% and 9.25%, respectively, and 18.32% for the final tandem configuration. A much simpler fabricated and simulated 4-T mechanically stacked tandem device, on the other hand, showcased top and bottom cell PCEs of 15.83% and 9.15%, at absorber layer thicknesses of 1300 nm and 900 nm, respectively, and a final overall tandem device PCE of 19.86%.

Polyphenol scaffolds in tissue engineering

Polyphenols are a class of ubiquitous compounds distributed in nature, with fascinating inherent biocompatible, bioadhesive, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. The unique polyphenolic structures based on catechol or pyrogallol moieties allow for strong non-covalent interactions (e.g., multiple hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and cation-π interactions) as well as covalent interactions (e.g., Michael addition/Schiff-base reaction, radical coupling reaction, and dynamic coordination interactions with boronate or metal ions). This review article provides an overview of the polyphenol-based scaffolds including the hydrogels, films, and nanofibers that have emerged from chemical and functional signatures during the past years. A full description of the structure-function relationships in terms of their utilization in wound healing, bone regeneration, and electroactive tissue engineering is also carefully discussed, which may pave the path towards the rational design and facile preparation of next-generation polyphenol scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

Lead-Free Perovskite Narrow-Bandgap Oxide Semiconductors of Rare-Earth Manganates

Tremendous success has been achieved in photovoltaic (PV) applications, but PV-generated electricity still cannot compete with traditional power in terms of price. Chemically stable and nontoxic all-oxide solar cells made from earth-abundant resources fulfill the requirements for low-cost manufacturing under ambient conditions and thus are promising as the next-generation approach to solar cells. However, the main obstacles to developing all-oxide solar cells are the spectral absorbers. Besides photovoltaics, novel chemically stable, nontoxic, and earth-abundant narrow-bandgap semiconductors are desired for photochemical applications in photodetectors, photoelectrodes, or photocatalysts. Herein, were report novel lead-free perovskite narrow-bandgap rare-earth semiconductors, YMnO3, HoMnO3, ErMnO3, and YbMnO3, which were identified by screening a family of perovskite rare-earth manganates, RMnO3 (R = Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb). The sharp edge observed in their absorption spectra indicates the existence of band gaps, further confirmed with laser Raman fluorescence spectra. Good periodic on-off photoelectronic response was observed in 8 of the 12 members (i.e., R = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, and Yb). Among them, YbMnO3 is approved as an n-type semiconductor with a direct band gap near 1.35 eV, whose theoretical Shockley-Queisser efficiency is approximately 33.7% for single-p-n-junction solar cells. This work sheds light on exploring stable oxide semiconductors with a narrow band gap for future applications.

Coordinated Optical Matching of a Texture Interface Made from Demixing Blended Polymers for High-Performance Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

The continuing increase of the efficiency of perovskite solar cells has pushed the internal quantum efficiency approaching 100%, which means the light-to-carrier and then the following carrier transportation and extraction are no longer limiting factors in photoelectric conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells. However, the optimal efficiency is still far lower than the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit, especially for those inverted perovskite solar cells, indicating that a significant fraction of light does not transmit into the active perovskite layer to be absorbed there. Here, a planar inverted perovskite solar cell (ITO/PTAA/perovskite/PC₆₁BM/bathocuproine (BCP)/Ag) is chosen as an example, and we show that its external quantum efficiency (EQE) can be significantly improved by simply texturing the poly[bis (4-phenyl)(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA) layer. By washing the film prepared from a mixed polymer solution of PTAA and polystyrene (PS), a textured PTAA/perovskite interface is introduced on the light-input side of perovskite to inhibit internal optical reflection. The reduction of optical loss by this simple texture method increases the EQE and then the photocurrent of the ITO/PTAA/perovskite/PC₆₁BM/BCP/Ag device with the magnitude of about 10%. At the same time, this textured PTAA benefits the band edge absorption in this planar solar cell. The large increase of the short-circuit current together with the increase of fill factor pushes the efficiency of this inverted perovskite solar cell from 18.3% up to an efficiency over 20.8%. By using an antireflection coating on glass to let more light into the device, the efficiency is further improved to 21.6%, further demonstrating the importance of light management in perovskite solar cells.

Hot carrier relaxation in Cs2TiI y Br6-y (y = 0, 2 and 6) by a time-domain ab initio study

Cs2TiI y Br6-y is a potential light absorption material for all-inorganic lead free perovskite solar cells due to its suitable and tunable bandgap, high optical absorption coefficient and high environmental stability. However, solar cells fabricated based on Cs2TiI y Br6-y do not perform well, and the reasons for their low efficiency are still unclear. Herein, hot carrier relaxation processes in Cs2TiI y Br6-y (y = 0, 2 and 6) were investigated by a time-domain density functional theory combined with the non-adiabatic molecular dynamics method. It was found that the relaxation time of the hot carriers in Cs2TiI y Br6-y ranges from 2-3 ps, which indicates that the hot carriers within 10 nm from the Cs2TiI y Br6-y /TiO2 interface can be effectively extracted before their energy is lost completely. The carrier-phonon non-adiabatic coupling (NAC) analyses demonstrate that the longer hot electron relaxation time in Cs2TiI2Br4 compared with that in Cs2TiBr6 and Cs2TiI6 originates from its weaker NAC strength. Furthermore, the electron-phonon interaction analyses indicate that the relaxation of hot electrons mainly comes from the coupling between the electrons distributed on the Ti-X bonds and the Ti-X vibrations, and that of hot holes can be attributed to the coupling between the electrons distributed on the X atoms and the distortions of [TiI y Br6-y ]2-. The simulation results indicate that Cs2TiI2Br4 should be better than Cs2TiBr6 and Cs2TiI6 to act as a light absorption layer based on the hot carrier energy loss, and the hot electron relaxation time in Cs2TiI y Br6-y can be adjusted by tuning the proportion of the I element.

A first-principles study on the optoelectronic properties of mixed-halide double perovskites Cs2TiI6−xBrx

All-inorganic double perovskites as promising photovoltaic materials have received great attention in recent years.

Efficient and Stable Planar n-i-p Perovskite Solar Cells with Negligible Hysteresis through Solution-Processed Cu2 O Nanocubes as a Low-Cost Hole-Transport Material

Organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have reached certified efficiencies of over 23 % with expensive organic hole-transporting materials. However, the use of an inorganic hole-transport layer (HTL) remains crucial as it would reduce cost combined with higher mobility and stability. In this direction, the application of Cu₂ O as the top layer in PSCs is still complicated owing to the difficulty of solution processing. Herein, a solution-processing method is reported for preparing Cu₂ O nanocubes as a p-type HTL in regular structure (n-i-p) PSCs. The controlled synthesis of Cu₂ O nanocubes in a size range of 60-80 nm is achieved without using any surfactants, which are usually toxic and tricky to remove. The new structure of these Cu₂ O nanocubes enhances the carrier mobility with preferable energy alignment to the perovskite layer and superb stability. The PSCs based on these Cu₂ O nanocubes HTMs could achieve an efficiency exceeding 17 % with high stability, whereas organic P3HT-based PSCs display an efficiency of 15.59 % with a poorer running stability. This indicates that Cu₂ O nanocubes are a promising HTM for efficient and stable PSCs.

Surface Passivation of Perovskite Solar Cells Toward Improved Efficiency and Stability

The advancement of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) technology toward commercialized promotion needs high efficiency and optimum stability. By introducing a small molecular material such as tetratetracontane (TTC, CH₃(CH₂)₄₂CH₃) at the fullerene (C₆₀)/perovskite interface of planar p-i-n PVSCs, we significantly reduced the interfacial traps, thereby suppressing electron recombination and facilitating electron extraction. Consequently, an improved efficiency of 20.05% was achieved with a high fill factor of 79.4%, which is one of the best performances for small molecular-modified PVSCs. Moreover, the hydrophobic TTC successfully protects the perovskite film from water damage. As a result, we realized a better long-term stability that maintains 87% of the initial efficiency after continuous exposure for 200 h in air.

Overcoming intrinsic defects of the hole transport layer with optimized carbon nanorods for perovskite solar cells

To overcome the intrinsic chemical-reduction-activity of highly p-doped PEDOT:PSS and improve the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of planar inverted perovskite solar cells, a kind of oxidized carbon nanorods (OCNRs) is developed by a ball-milling/chemical-oxidation method and incorporated into PEDOT:PSS hole transport layer (HTL). The incorporation of OCNRs can increase the work function of the PEDOT:PSS layer, which avoids the energy-level mismatch between the PEDOT:PSS HTL and the HOMO level of the CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite layer, leading to a relatively high Voc of 1.01 V (vs. 0.92 V for the PEDOT:PSS device). Moreover, the introduction of OCNRs into the PEDOT:PSS HTL increases the grain size and uniformity of the perovskite layer, accompanied by the improved charge transport ability. As a result, the fill factor of perovskite solar cells is increased from 75.4% to 81.7%, and the best power conversion efficiency of 19.02% is achieved.