Researchers from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have made an advancement in the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) that could pave the way for the commercialisation of PSCs. Perovskite solar cells have garnered attention due to their reduced toxicity and broad light absorption capabilities, making them promising for photovoltaic applications. However, the presence of inherent ionic vacancies in tin-lead halide perovskites (TLHPs) has posed challenges, leading to accelerated device degradation due to inward metal diffusion.
To address this challenge, the researchers developed a chemically protective cathode interlayer using amine-functionalised perylene diimide (PDINN). By leveraging its nucleophilic sites to form tridentate metal complexes, PDINN extracts electrons and suppresses inward metal diffusion. The novel solution-processed PDINN cathode interlayer has also demonstrated its potential to stabilise TLHP-based photovoltaic (PV) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices.
The PV device achieved an efficiency of 23.21% with over 81% retention after 750 hours of operation at 60°C, and more than 90% retention after 3100 hours at 23 ± 4°C. Additionally, the TLHP-based PEC devices, coupled with biomass oxidation, exhibited a bias-free solar hydrogen production rate of 33.0 mA cm-2, approximately 1.7-fold higher than the target set by the US Department of Energy for one-sun hydrogen production.
The innovative design of the cathode interlayer demonstrates the potential of TLHPs for efficient and stable photoconversion. Professor Sung-Yeon Jang from UNIST said the researchers have dramatically increased the long-term stability of tin-lead PSCs. “Our goal is not only to convert light energy into electrical energy but also to develop eco-friendly methods for producing basic chemicals, such as hydrogen, which form the foundation of various industries,” Jang said.
The research findings were published online in Advanced Energy Materials.
Image credit: iStock.com/nevodka
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