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Earlier methods spread defect-fixing layers everywhere, so researchers modified SnO₂ nanoparticles to precisely control where protective layers form.
Researchers in China have unveiled a new way to significantly improve the efficiency and durability of perovskite solar cells by engineering their hidden interfaces.
A team led by the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) reported the creation of an ultra-thin two-dimensional perovskite layer within conventional three-dimensional devices.
According to researchers, the approach enhances film crystallization and cuts defect concentrations at buried interfaces by over 90 percent, sharply boosting performance and long-term stability.
Recently, a new study has described a novel chemical additive that suppresses harmful radicals in perovskite films, reducing degradation and driving solar cell efficiencies beyond 26 percent.
A major obstacle holding back the efficiency and long-term stability of perovskite solar cells is the high density of defects that form on both the top and bottom surfaces of the perovskite layer. These defects act as recombination centers, reducing power output and accelerating device degradation.
According to the team, previous efforts to mitigate this problem have involved adding long-chain ammonium salts directly into the perovskite precursor. While this strategy can generate two-dimensional (2D) perovskite phases that help passivate defects, it typically produces 2D structures throughout the bulk film as well as at the buried interfaces, making it difficult to precisely control where these phases form.
To overcome this limitation, the research team developed a targeted interface-engineering approach. They sequentially grafted thioglycolic acid (TGA) and oleylamine (OAm) onto the surface of tin dioxide (SnO₂) nanoparticles, creating a modified electron transport layer known as SnO₂-TGA-OAm. The strong chemical interaction between TGA and OAm stabilizes the grafted molecules and prevents premature reactions.
Crucially, cation exchange with formamidinium iodide (FAI) is triggered only during the thermal annealing of the perovskite layer. This controlled reaction leads to the spontaneous formation of a 2D/3D perovskite heterostructure exclusively at the bottom, buried interface of the film. As a result, interfacial defects are effectively suppressed without disrupting the bulk crystal structure, delivering marked improvements in both device performance and operational stability.
Using the newly developed SnO₂-TGA-OAm nanoparticles, the research team created a multifunctional electron-transport layer that delivered significant gains in perovskite solar cell performance across multiple device scales.
Cells incorporating the modified layer reached a power conversion efficiency of 26.19 percent in small-area devices measuring 0.09 square centimeters. When scaled up, a module with a 21.54-square-centimeter aperture achieved 23.44 percent efficiency, with an independently certified value of 22.68 percent. Even larger modules, covering 64.80 square centimeters, maintained a high efficiency of 22.22 percent, underscoring the approach’s scalability.
“These values rank among the highest efficiencies reported to date for small-sized PSCs and modules based on 2D/3D perovskite heterojunctions,” said Zhao Qiangqiang, and the first author of the study, in a statement.
According to researchers, the in situ solid-state ligand-exchange process is well-suited for transitioning from laboratory fabrication to industrial manufacturing while also improving long-term operational stability. By enabling precise formation of 2D/3D heterojunctions at buried interfaces within perovskite absorber layers, the strategy addresses a long-standing challenge in device engineering.
The team says the advance is expected to accelerate the commercialization of perovskite photovoltaic technologies.
Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.
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