Easily accessible polymer additives for tuning the crystal-growth of perovskite thin-films for highly efficient solar cells

Polymer-enhanced perovskite oxide-based photocatalysts: a review

Oxide perovskites (OPs) have emerged as promising photocatalysts for numerous applications, such as energy conversion, renewable fuels, and environmental remediation. Although OPs are gaining traction, their efficacies are still hindered by low charge carrier mobility and poor stability. This study investigated the function of polymers actively participating in OP structures to improve the overall characteristics. An overview of the polymer-enhanced perovskite oxide photocatalyst (PEPOP) field was effectively reviewed. These PEPOPs were demonstrated in photovoltaics, pollutant degradation, and gas conversion and reduction. Nonetheless, additional research is needed to explore the potential of PEPOPs to establish their efficacy in photocatalytic applications. The technological improvements of PEPOPs were hindered by significant challenges related to stability and sensitivity. The urgency of this review was apparent due to the fast-paced nature of research in the field of photocatalysis. Recent breakthroughs and emerging applications highlight the need for a comprehensive overview of PEPOPs and their enhanced catalytic capabilities. Consequently, a broad outlook was provided for the current state of PEPOP-related studies, highlighting the potential of these materials for future applications.

Donor-Acceptor Copolymers with 9-(2-Ethylhexyl)carbazole or Dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide Donor Units and 5,6-Difluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole Acceptor Units for Photonics

Semiconducting polymers, particularly of the third generation, including donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymers, are extensively studied due to their huge potential for photonic and electronic applications. Here, we report on two new D-A copolymers, CP1 and CP2, composed of different electron-donor (D) units: 9-(2-ethylhexyl)carbazole or dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide, respectively, and of 4,7-bis(4'-(2-octyldodecyl)thiophen-2'-yl)-5,6-difluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole building block with central 5,6-difluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole electron-acceptor (A) units, which were synthesized by Suzuki coupling in the high-boiling solvent xylene and characterized. The copolymers exhibited very good thermal and oxidation stability. A copolymer CP1 with different molecular weights was prepared in order to facilitate a comparison of CP1 with CP2 of comparable molecular weight and to reveal the relationship between molecular weight and properties. The photophysical, electrochemical, and electroluminescence properties were examined. Intense red photoluminescence (PL) with higher PL efficiencies for CP1 than for CP2 was observed in both solutions and films. Red shifts in the PL thin film spectra compared with the PL solution spectra indicated aggregate formation in the solid state. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed differences in the arrangement of molecules in thin films depending on the molecular weight of the copolymers. Light-emitting devices with efficient red emission and low onset voltages were prepared and characterized.

Carbazole-Fluorene Copolymers with Various Substituents at the Carbazole Nitrogen: Structure-Properties Relationship

Carbazole derivatives, carbazole-containing polymers and iridium complexes are of interest due to many possible applications in photonics, electronics and biology, particularly as active or hole-transporting layers in organic as well as perovskite devices due to their interesting properties. Here, a series of carbazole-fluorene conjugated copolymers with various substituents at the N-carbazole position (2-methoxycarbonylethyl, 2-carboxyethyl, 2-ethylhexyl, and nonan-2,4-dionatoiridium(III)bis(2-phenylpyridine-N,C^2')-9-yl) was prepared by Suzuki coupling. Their photophysical, electrochemical and electroluminescence (EL) properties were studied. Effects of molecular weight and substituents attached to carbazole unit on their properties are reported. The carbazole-fluorene copolymers in dilute solutions exhibited intense photoluminescence (PL) emission in the blue spectral region with high PL quantum yields (78-87%) except for the copolymer with the iridium complex (23%). Similar PL spectra were observed in dilute solutions. More pronounced differences were found in thin film PL and EL properties due to excimer/aggregate formation. Light-emitting devices (LEDs) made of copolymers with 2-ethylhexyl as N-carbazole substituent exhibited efficient EL emission with the best performance and the lowest EL onset voltages (3-4 V), while the LEDs made of copolymers with other substituents were not as efficient, but showed anomalous behavior and memory effects in current-voltage characteristics promising also for bio-inspired electronics.

Hydrophobic-Hydrophilic Block Copolymer Mediated Tuning of Halide Perovskite Photosensitive Device Stability and Efficiency

The polymer additive strategy provides a facile and cost-effective way for passivating defects and trap sites at the grain boundaries and interfaces and acting as a barrier against the external degradation factors in perovskite-based devices. However, limited literature exists discussing the integration of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer additives in the form of a copolymer within the perovskite films. The inherent difference in the chemical structure of these polymers and their interaction with perovskite components and the environment leads to critical differences in the respective polymer-perovskite films. The current work utilizes both homopolymer and copolymer strategies to understand the effect of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), two common commodity polymers, over the physicochemical and electro-optical properties of the as-fabricated devices and the distribution of polymer chains across the depth of perovskite films. The hydrophobic PS integrated perovskite devices PS-MAPbI₃, 36 PS-b-1.4-PEG-MAPbI₃, and 21.5 PS-b-20-PEG-MAPbI₃ outperform hydrophilic PEG-MAPbI₃ and pristine MAPbI₃ devices and exhibit higher photocurrent, lower dark currents, and greater stability. A critical difference is also observed in the stability of devices, where rapid decay of performance is observed in the pristine MAPbI₃ films. The deterioration in performance is highly limited for hydrophobic polymer-MAPbI₃ films as they maintain 80% of their initial performance.

Improved Thermal Stability and Film Uniformity of Halide Perovskite by Confinement Effect brought by Polymer Chains of Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone

Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) is doped to PbI₂ and organic salt during two-step growth of halideperovskite. It is observed that PVP molecules can interact with both PbI₂ and organic salt, reduce the aggregation and crystallization of the two, and then slow down the coarsening rate of perovskite. As doping concentration increases from 0 to 1 mM in organic salt, average crystallite size of perovskite decreases monotonously from 90 to 34 nm; Surface fluctuation reduces from 259.9 to 179.8 nm at first, and then increases; Similarly, surface roughness decreases from 45.55 to 26.64 nm at first, and then rises. Accordingly, a kind of "confinement effect" is resolved to crystallite growth and surface fluctuation/roughness, which helps to build compact and uniform perovskite film. Density of trap states (t-DOS) is cut down by ≈60% at moderate doping  (0.2 mM). Due to the "confinement effect", power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells is improved from 19.46 (±2.80) % to 21.50 (±0.99) %, and further improved to 24.11% after surface modification. Meanwhile, "confinement effect" strengthens crystallite/grain boundaries and improves thermal stability of both film and device. T₈₀ of device increases to 120 h, compared to 50 h for reference ones.

Simultaneous achievement of defect passivation and carrier transport promotion by using emerald salt for methylammonium-free perovskite solar cells

Defect passivation along with promoted charge transport is potentially an effective but seldom exploited strategy for high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, the in situ defect passivation and carrier transport improvement are simultaneously realized by introducing a conductive polymer (i.e., emerald salt, ES) into the precursor solution of methylammonium (MA)-free perovskites. The interaction between ES and uncoordinated Pb2+ reduces defect density to suppress the non-radiative recombination. Moreover, ES can act as a "carrier driver" to promote the carrier transport due to its conductive feature, resulting in efficient PSC devices with a decent power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.0%, which is among the most efficient MA-free PSCs. The ES-based unencapsulated devices show superior stability, retaining 89.1% and 83.8% of their initial PCEs when subjected to 35 ± 5% relative humidity (RH) storage and 85 °C thermal aging for 1000 h, respectively. To further assess the large-area compatibility of our strategy, 5 × 5 cm2 mini modules were also fabricated, delivering an impressive efficiency of 19.3%. This work sheds light on the importance of conductive additives in boosting cell performance by playing multiple roles in passivating defects, retarding the moisture invasion, and enhancing and balancing charge transport.

Growth and Degradation Kinetics of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Films Determined by In Situ Grazing-Incidence X-Ray Scattering Techniques

Organic-inorganic halide perovskite (OIHP) solar cells hold a great promise for commercial breakthrough since their power conversion efficiency has been pushed beyond the mark of 25%, making them capable of competing with traditional crystalline silicon solar cells. The key to achieve efficient and stable perovskite solar cells is inherently related to the film morphology. The understanding of the kinetic processes of film formation and degradation opens up possibilities to tailor the film morphology via the regulation of precursor and processing parameters. In situ grazing-incidence X-ray scattering (GIXS) techniques allow for tracking the morphology evolution of thin films at different length scales and with high temporal resolution. In this review, the selected examples for application of in situ grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering and grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering techniques to the growth and stability of OIHPs are summarized after a brief introduction to both techniques, highlighting particularly the morphological evolution of perovskite films over time. Then the correlated mathematical models are reviewed to give a toolbox for analyzing the mechanisms of film formation and degradation. Thus, an overview on the in situ GIXS methods is linked to the research of OIHP kinetics.

Fluorinated Oligomer Wrapped Perovskite Crystals for Inverted MAPbI3 Solar Cells with 21% Efficiency and Enhanced Stability

Defects at the grain boundary provide sites for nonradiative recombination in halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, by polymerization and fluorination of a Lewis acid of 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentanoic acid, a fluorinated oligomer (FO-19) is synthesized and applied to passivate these defects in methlyammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃). It is demonstrated that the carboxyl bond of FO-19 was coordinated with Pb ions in the perovskite films to achieve a wrapping effect on the perovskite crystals. The defects of perovskite film are effectively passivated, and the undesirable nonradiative recombination is greatly inhibited. As a result, FO-19 gives a power conversion efficiency of 21.23% for the inverted MAPbI₃-based PSCs, which is among the highest reported values in the literature. Meanwhile, the corresponding device with FO-19 exhibits significantly improved humidity and thermal stability. Therefore, this work offers insights into the realization of high-efficiency and stable PSCs through fluorinated additive engineering.

Polymer Additive Assisted Fabrication of Compact and Ultra-Smooth Perovskite Thin Films with Fast Lamp Annealing

Perovskite solar cells (PVSC) have drawn increasing attention due to their high photovoltaic performance and low-cost fabrication with solution processability. A variety of methods have been developed to make uniform and dense perovskite thin films, which play a critical role on device performance. Herein, we demonstrate a polymer additive assisted approach with Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers to facilitate the growth of uniform, dense, and ultra-smooth perovskite thin films. Furthermore, a lamp annealing approach has been developed to rapidly anneal perovskite films using an incandescent lamp, resulting in comparable or even better device performance compared to the control hotplate annealing. The facile polymer additive assisted method and the rapid lamp annealing technique offer a clue for the large-scale fabrication of efficient PVSCs.

Enhanced crystallization of solution-processed perovskite using urea as an additive for large-grain MAPbI3perovskite solar cells

Perovskite crystal quality plays an important role in perovskite solar cells, given that multiple grain boundaries and trap states in the perovskite films hamper further enhancement of solar cell efficiency. Using the solution method to prepare perovskite films with large grains and high coverage requires further improvements. Herein, we introduce Lewis base urea as an additive into the precursor of perovskite to control the crystallization dynamics, allowing for large-grain crystal growth. As a result, MAPbI₃films with urea as an additive are well crystallized with large crystal grains of sizes >3μm. The large-grain perovskite is found to simultaneously improve the power-conversion efficiency (PCE) and device stability. With an optimal urea additive of 20 mol%, the PCE is significantly increased from 15.47% for the reference MAPbI₃solar cell to 18.53% for the device with MAPbI₃with urea as an additive. Finally, the optimized device demonstrates excellent stability and maintains 80% of the initial PCE after 60 days.

All-Perovskite Photodetector with Fast Response

Perovskites have attracted substantial attention on account of their excellent physical properties and simple preparation process. Here we demonstrated an improved photodetector based on solution-processing organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbI3-xClx layer decorated with CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots. The CH3NH3PbI3-xClx-CsPbBr3 photodetector was operated in a visible light region, which appeared high responsivity (R = 0.39 A/W), detectivity (D* = 5.43 × 109 Jones), carrier mobility (μp = 172 cm2 V-1 s-1 and μn = 216 cm2 V-1 s-1), and fast response (rise time 121 μs and fall time 107 μs). The CH3NH3PbI3-xClx-CsPbBr3 heterostructure is anticipated to find comprehensive applications in future high-performance photoelectronic devices.

Niobium Incorporation into CsPbI2Br for Stable and Efficient All-Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells

All-inorganic perovskites are attracting increasing attention due to their superior thermal stability than that of the traditional CH₃NH₃PbI₃, while their inferior phase stability in ambient conditions is still an unsolved issue. Here, for the first time, we report the incorporation of niobium (Nb⁵⁺) ions into the CsPbI₂Br perovskite. Results indicate that Nb⁵⁺ can effectively stabilize the photoactive α-CsPbI₂Br phase by the possible substitution of Pb²⁺. With 0.5% Nb doping, the carbon electrode-based all-inorganic perovskite solar cells achieved a high photoconversion efficiency value of 10.42%, 15% higher than that of the control device. The Nb⁵⁺ incorporation reduces the charge recombination in the perovskite, leading to a champion V_oc value of 1.27 V and a negligible hysteresis effect. This work explicates the high compatibility of all-inorganic perovskite materials and unlocks the opportunities for the use of high-valence ions for perovskite property modification.

The Applications of Polymers in Solar Cells: A Review

The emerging dye-sensitized solar cells, perovskite solar cells, and organic solar cells have been regarded as promising photovoltaic technologies. The device structures and components of these solar cells are imperative to the device’s efficiency and stability. Polymers can be used to adjust the device components and structures of these solar cells purposefully, due to their diversified properties. In dye-sensitized solar cells, polymers can be used as flexible substrates, pore- and film-forming agents of photoanode films, platinum-free counter electrodes, and the frameworks of quasi-solid-state electrolytes. In perovskite solar cells, polymers can be used as the additives to adjust the nucleation and crystallization processes in perovskite films. The polymers can also be used as hole transfer materials, electron transfer materials, and interface layer to enhance the carrier separation efficiency and reduce the recombination. In organic solar cells, polymers are often used as donor layers, buffer layers, and other polymer-based micro/nanostructures in binary or ternary devices to influence device performances. The current achievements about the applications of polymers in solar cells are reviewed and analyzed. In addition, the benefits of polymers for solar cells, the challenges for practical application, and possible solutions are also assessed.

Beneficial effects of potassium iodide incorporation on grain boundaries and interfaces of perovskite solar cells

Grain boundaries and interfacial impurities are the main factors that limit the further development of polycrystalline perovskite solar cells because their existence severely deteriorates the device performance. In order to optimize the efficiency of perovskite solar cells, it is essential to eliminate these defects. In the present work, potassium iodide (KI) is incorporated into the perovskite absorber. KI incorporation improves the crystallinity of the perovskite, increases the grain size, and decreases the contact potential distribution at the grain boundary, which are verified by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy. Besides, the activation energy of the recombination, estimated from the temperature dependent current–voltage of perovskite solar cells, is larger than the bandgap calculated from the temperature coefficient. These suggest that KI incorporation effectively passivates the grain boundaries and interfacial defects. As a result, charge trapping in the absorber as well as the bimolecular and trap-assisted recombination of the device are significantly suppressed. Consequently, the open circuit voltage and fill factor of the incorporated devices are greatly improved, enabling an optimized power conversion efficiency of 19.5%, in comparison with that of 17.3% for the control one. Our work provides an effective strategy of defect passivation in perovskite solar cells by KI incorporation and clarifies the mechanism of the performance optimization of KI incorporated devices.

The improved performance for KI incorporated perovskite solar cells are clarified from the point view of grain boundry and interface passivation.

Improved photoelectric performance of all-inorganic perovskite through different additives for green light-emitting diodes

Improving the performance of all-inorganic CsPbBr₃–PEO–PVP-based LEDs with the structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Perovskite/TPBI/LiF/Al.

High Electrical Conductivity 2D MXene Serves as Additive of Perovskite for Efficient Solar Cells

MXenes, a newly intriguing family of 2D materials, have recently attracted considerable attention owing to their excellent properties such as high electrical conductivity and mobility, tunable structure, and termination groups. Here, the Ti₃ C₂ T_x MXene is incorporated into the perovskite absorber layer for the first time, which aims for efficiency enhancement. Results show that the termination groups of Ti₃ C₂ T_x can retard the crystallization rate, thereby increasing the crystal size of CH₃ NH₃ PbI₃ . It is found that the high electrical conductivity and mobility of MXene can accelerate the charge transfer. After optimizing the key parameters, 12% enhancement in device performance is achieved by 0.03 wt% amount of MXene additive. This work unlocks opportunities for the use of MXene as potential materials in perovskite solar cell applications.

Surface Modification of Methylamine Lead Halide Perovskite with Aliphatic Amine Hydroiodide

By spin-coating method, a thin layer of dodecylamine hydroiodide (DAHI) is introduced to the surface of perovskite CH₃NH₃PbI _xCl_{3- x}. This layer of DAHI successfully changes the surface of perovskite from hydrophilic to hydrophobic as revealed by the water contact angle measurement. Significantly enhanced fluorescence intensity and prolonged fluorescence lifetime are found for these modified films in comparison to those of unmodified perovskite films, suggesting that the number of structure defects is reduced dramatically. The compatibility between the perovskite and hole transfer layer (HTL) is also improved, which leads to more efficient hole collection from the perovskite layer by HTL as revealed by the fluorescence spectra, fluorescence decay dynamics, as well as the transient photocurrent measurements. Moreover, the perovskite solar cells (PSCs) fabricated from these modified perovskite films exhibit significantly improved humidity stability as well as promoted photoelectron conversion efficiency (PCE). The result of this research reveals for the first time that the layer of aliphatic amino hydroiodide is a multiple functions layer, which can not only improve the humidity stability but also promote the performance of PSCs by reducing the defect number and improve the compatibility between perovskite and HTL. Because the structure of aliphatic amines can be functionalized with myriad of other groups, this perovskite modification method should be very promising in promoting the performance of PSCs.

CH3NH3Pb1−xEuxI3 mixed halide perovskite for hybrid solar cells: the impact of divalent europium doping on efficiency and stability

The crucial role of the impact of divalent europium doping in perovskite solar cells is investigated in this work.

Enhanced Efficiency and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells via Anti-Solvent Treatment in Two-Step Deposition Method

The low-cost inorganic-organic lead halide perovskite materials become particularly promising for solar cells with high photovoltaic conversion efficiency. The uniform and pinhole-free perovskite films play an important role for high-performance solar cells. We demonstrate an antisolvent treatment by controlling the PbI₂ morphology to enhance the perovskite conversion and photophysical properties, including high absorption, crystallinity, and rapid carrier transfer. The fabricated perovskite solar cells show tremendous PCE improvement to about 16.1% from 12% with less hysteresis, and retain over 90% initial PCE after 30 days in ambient and dark atmosphere. In prospect, this antisolvent treatment will be a feasible route to prepare high-quality perovskite films including favorite photophysical properties.

Enhancement of the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells, LEDs, and Optical Amplifiers by Anti-Solvent Additive Deposition

The efficiency of perovskite optoelectronic devices is increased by a novel method; its suitability for perovskite solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and optical amplifiers is demonstrated. The method is based on the introduction of organic additives during the anti-solvent step in the perovskite thin-film deposition process. Additives passivate grain boundaries reducing non-radiative recombination. The method can be easily extended to other additives.

Blended additive manipulated morphology and crystallinity transformation toward high performance perovskite solar cells

The morphology and crystallinity of MAPbI₃ thin films were regulated using blended-additive engineering for high performance perovskite solar cells.

Enhanced performance of perovskite solar cells by modulating the Lewis acid-base reaction

The Lewis acid-base reaction between PbI₂ and solvent molecules is popular in fabricating PbI₂ films by a two-step method for making perovskite solar cells. Here, we control the microstructure of PbI₂ films through modulating the Lewis acid-base reaction by adding a small amount of N-methyl pyrrolidone into PbI₂/DMF solution. PbI₂ films with excellent crystallinity and full coverage are fabricated by spin-coating the mixed solution on the substrate, which leads to high quality perovskite layers with low recombination rate and high efficiency for carrier transfer. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of the best perovskite solar cells increases from 13.3% to 17.5%.

Isoindigo-based polymer photovoltaics: modifying polymer molecular structures to control the nanostructural packing motif

Donor molecular structures, and their packing aspects in donor:acceptor active blends, play a crucial role in the photovoltaic performance of polymer solar cells. We systematically investigated a series of isoindigo-based donor polymers within the framework of a three-dimensional (3D) crystalline motif by modifying their chemical structures, thereby affecting device performances. Although our isoindigo-based polymer series contained polymers that differed only by their alkyl side chains and/or donating units, they showed quite different nanoscale morphological properties, which resulted in significantly different device efficiencies. Notably, blends of our isoindigo-based donor polymer systems with an acceptor compound, whereby the blends had more intermixed network morphologies and stronger face-on orientations of the polymer crystallites, provided better-performing photovoltaic devices. This behavior was analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and two-dimensional grazing incidence wide angle X-ray diffraction (2D-GIWAXD). To the best of our knowledge, no correlation has been reported previously between 3D nano-structural donor crystallites and device performances, particularly for isoindigo-based polymer systems.

Facilitating Electron Transportation in Perovskite Solar Cells via Water-Soluble Fullerenol Interlayers

TiO2 is widely used in perovskite solar cells (Pero-SCs), but its low electrical conductivity remains a drawback for application in electron transport layer (ETL). To overcome this problem, an easily accessible hydroxylated fullerene, fullerenol, was employed herein as ETL modified on ITO in n-i-p type (ITO as cathode) Pero-SCs for the first time. The results showed that the insertion of a single layer of fullerenol between perovskite and TiO2 dramatically facilitates the charge transportation and decreases the interfacial resistance. As a consequence, the device performance was greatly improved, and a higher power conversion efficiency of 14.69% was achieved, which is ∼17.5% enhancement compared with that (12.50%) of the control device without the fullerenol interlayer. This work provides a new candidate of interfacial engineering for facilitating the electron transportation in Pero-SCs.