Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center
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- The carbonyl group and chloride ion of 4-aminocyclohexanone hydrochloride (ACHCl) can synergistically passivate surface defects in the perovskite, thereby mitigating the defect-assisted recombination.
- The ACH+ cations can anchor to positively charged surface defects through the carbonyl group, forming a cationic dipole layer.
- The formation of an ACH+ cationic dipole layer induces surface polarization, which promotes favorable energy-level alignment and reduces interfacial energy losses.
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Credit: Weichun Pan, Jihuai Wu*, Jiexi Pan, Shanyue Wei, Lina Tan, Wenjing Li, Deng Wang, Xuping Liu, Yiming Xie, Jianming Lin, Zhang Lan*.
As inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) approach commercial viability, interfacial losses at the perovskite/charge transport layer junctions remain a critical bottleneck, causing severe carrier recombination and energy misalignment. Now, researchers from Huaqiao University and Lingnan Normal University, led by Professor Jihuai Wu and Professor Zhang Lan, have developed a novel surface polarization strategy that pushes device efficiency beyond 26% while dramatically enhancing operational stability.
Why This Interface Matters
Conventional surface passivation strategies often fail to simultaneously address defect-induced non-radiative recombination and interfacial energy level misalignment. The team ingeniously utilizes intrinsic surface defects—uncoordinated Pb²⁺ ions and halide vacancies—as anchoring sites for dipolar molecules, transforming these "flaws" into functional advantages for interfacial engineering.
Innovative Design and Mechanism
The researchers introduce 4-aminocyclohexanone hydrochloride (ACHCl), whose carbonyl groups coordinate with under-coordinated Pb2+ while chloride ions fill halide vacancies, synergistically passivating defects. Crucially, ACH⁺ cations anchor perpendicularly to the surface via these defects, forming an ordered cation-dipole layer with positively charged −NH3⁺ groups oriented outward. This arrangement induces surface polarization, creating downward band bending that reduces the electron extraction barrier at the perovskite/PCBM interface while effectively blocking holes.
Outstanding Performance
The optimized devices achieve a champion power conversion efficiency of 26.12% (up from 23.98%), with an open-circuit voltage of 1.200 V and fill factor of 84.97%. The strategy reduces non-radiative recombination losses by 42 mV and enhances carrier extraction. Stability tests reveal exceptional durability: devices retain 91% of initial efficiency after 1,000 hours in ambient humidity and 92% after 1,000 hours under continuous illumination (ISOS-L-1I protocol), far surpassing the 50% retention of pristine devices.
Future Outlook
This work establishes a dual-functional strategy that converts surface defects into anchoring points for ordered dipole formation, simultaneously passivating traps and optimizing energy alignment. The approach offers a versatile pathway for developing highly efficient and stable inverted PSCs suitable for next-generation photovoltaics.
Stay tuned for more breakthrough research from this innovative team!
Nano-Micro Letters
10.1007/s40820-026-02150-7
News article
Defect‑Anchored Dipole Molecules Induce Surface Polarization Facilitating High‑Performance Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
18-Mar-2026
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Copyright © 2026 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Copyright © 2026 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
