Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guixiang Li, Zhenhuang Su, Meng Li, Harrison Ka Hin Lee, Ram Datt, Declan Hughes, Chenyue Wang, Marion Flatken, Hans Koebler, Jose Juan Jeronimo-Rendon, Rajarshi Roy, Feng Yang, Jorge Pascual, Zhe Li, Wing Chung Tsoi, Xingyu Gao, Zhaokui Wang, Michael Saliba, Antonio Abate
Summary: This study systematically investigates the performance of metal halide perovskite solar cells under extreme temperatures. The in situ scattering experiments reveal that phase transition and crystal disordering are the dominant factors for the temperature-dependent deterioration of device efficiency. However, the perovskite structure and photovoltaic performances are shown to be recoverable. This research provides new insights into the functioning under extreme temperatures.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hui Zhang, Nam-Gyu Park
Summary: Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have shown great efficiency and cost advantages compared to most commercial photovoltaic devices, but their inherent instability remains a major concern. Strain control is found to be essential for designing stable PSCs, and this article elucidates the evolution of strain in perovskite thin films and its impact on device performance, as well as reviewing the latest strategies for strain modulation.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arthur Julien, Jean-Baptiste Puel, Jean-Francois Guillemoles
Summary: A novel simulation method is used to identify the mechanisms responsible for the degradation of perovskite solar cells. Experimental data is compared to simulated pathways in order to determine the dominant cause of performance losses and provide insights for stability improvements.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jinpeng Wu, Shun-Chang Liu, Zongbao Li, Shuo Wang, Ding-Jiang Xue, Yuan Lin, Jin-Song Hu
Summary: The article reviews the rapid increase in power conversion efficiencies of metal halide perovskite solar cells, yet commercialization still faces challenges, particularly in stability. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the sources of material stability and strain regulation strategies for improving stability.
NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongbo Liang, Wenhan Yang, Junmin Xia, Hao Gu, Xiangchuan Meng, Gege Yang, Ying Fu, Bin Wang, Hairui Cai, Yiwang Chen, Shengchun Yang, Chao Liang
Summary: This article summarizes the sources of strain, evaluation methods, impacts on f-PSCs, and engineering strategies to modulate strain in flexible perovskite solar cells. The aim of this review is to provide new insights that can further improve the optoelectronic performance and stability of flexible devices.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fei Wang, Kang Zhou, Xiao Liang, Xianfang Zhou, Dawei Duan, Chuangye Ge, Xintao Zhang, Yumeng Shi, Haoran Lin, Quanyao Zhu, Liang Li, Hanlin Hu, Hongyu Zhang
Summary: Ionic liquids (ILs) are used to manipulate crystallization kinetics, optimize morphology, and passivate defects in perovskite devices. This study introduces ILs with different anion sizes as additives for perovskite film formation. Small-sized anions effectively reduce defect density, suppress charge-carrier recombination, extend photoluminescence lifetime, and improve device performance.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Jing Wei, Qiuwen Wang, Jiangding Huo, Feng Gao, Zhenyu Gan, Qing Zhao, Hongbo Li
Summary: Solar cells based on metal halide perovskites have high efficiency but suffer from photoinduced degradation mechanisms, including phase segregation or chemical decomposition in organic-inorganic perovskites, introduction of defects by oxide electron transport layers, and poor photostability of small molecules-based hole transport layers. Improvement in stability is needed for future optimization of relevant devices.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sapir Bitton, Nir Tessler
Summary: We study the impact of iodide reactions on recombination pathways in halide perovskite solar cells. Under light excitation, photoexcited charges enable the redistribution of iodide, leading to the deterioration of power conversion efficiency and the appearance of hysteresis in permeable blocking layers. The introduction of reactive electrodes that react with and immobilize iodide results in rapid performance loss, while light excitation also leads to the generation of iodine molecules (I-2), which can cause non-reversible degradation if allowed to leave the device. The choice of the electron-blocking layer's energy levels can suppress this degradation pathway.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bowen Yang, Dmitry Bogachuk, Jiajia Suo, Lukas Wagner, Hobeom Kim, Jaekeun Lim, Andreas Hinsch, Gerrit Boschloo, Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin, Anders Hagfeldt
Summary: This article reviews the influence of strain on the performance and stability of halide perovskite solar cells, covering the origins, characterization techniques, and control strategies of strain. It also proposes effective strategies for future strain engineering. The comprehensive review is important for researchers to gain a deeper understanding of strain effects and improve performance towards commercialization.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qian Cheng, Boxin Wang, Gaosheng Huang, Yanxun Li, Xing Li, Jieyi Chen, Shengli Yue, Kang Li, Hong Zhang, Yuan Zhang, Huiqiong Zhou
Summary: This study investigates the residual strain in a two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite film and finds that the spacer cations contribute to the residual strain. By strain relaxation, the film quality is improved, leading to enhanced efficiency and good stability in unstable environments.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Yuqin Zhou, Zhihao Guo, Saif M. H. Qaid, Zhiyuan Xu, Yong Zhou, Zhigang Zang
Summary: The power conversion efficiency of organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells has rapidly increased in recent years, with the best-performing perovskite reaching a PCE of 26%. However, the phase instability issue of formamidine-based perovskites has hindered their commercialization, with strain in perovskite films being a major factor impacting device stability. This review examines the sources of strain, its effects on formamidine-based perovskites, strategies to modify lattice strain, and the future potential for strain engineering.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pei-Ying Lin, Chen-Fu Lin, Yueh-Ya Chiu, Hong-Hsueh Chen, Ming-Hsien Li, Rajendran Raja, Chun-Sheng Wu, Cheng-Hung Hou, Silver Sung-Yun Hsiao, Jing-Jong Shyue, Der-Chuen Lee, Sheng-Zhu Ho, Yi-Chun Chen, Peter Chen
Summary: This study verifies the use of pseudo-halide anion thiocyanate as an additive in composition-engineered perovskite films and investigates its impact on the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). It is observed that the incorporation of thiocyanate ions in the perovskite film significantly increases the domain size. Moreover, the presence of thiocyanate groups inside the perovskite bulk is confirmed, and it effectively suppresses bulk recombination in the perovskite film, leading to an improvement in the open-circuit voltage (VOC) and fill factor for the pseudo-halide-based PSCs.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Optics
Chao Luo, Guanhaojie Zheng, Feng Gao, Xianjin Wang, Changling Zhan, Xingyu Gao, Qing Zhao
Summary: By using a lattice-matched perovskite oxide as an electron transport layer, the buried interface in perovskite solar cells can be optimized, leading to a maximum power conversion efficiency of 25.17%. Modifying the exposed upper surface of the cells has improved their photovoltaic performance, but the equally important buried interface has been less studied. Through non-destructive investigation, it has been found that the disordered beginning of the perovskite film growth deteriorates the buried interface. To address this, a transparent and conductive oxide perovskite is synthesized as the electron transport layer, enabling a more ordered growth and better performance.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Namyoung Ahn, Mansoo Choi
Summary: This review article discusses the operational stability of perovskite solar cells and modules, covering the fundamental aspects of perovskite instability and degradation mechanisms, as well as recent advances in stabilizing techniques for practical use of perovskite-based solar devices.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ruihao Chen, Yongke Wang, Siqing Nie, Hui Shen, Yong Hui, Jian Peng, Binghui Wu, Jun Yin, Jing Li, Nanfeng Zheng
Summary: Surface iodide management using cesium sulfonate can stabilize lead halide perovskite surfaces, reduce surface defects and nonradiative recombination, and improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yicheng Zhao, Thomas Heumueller, Jiyun Zhang, Junsheng Luo, Olga Kasian, Stefan Langner, Christian Kupfer, Bowen Liu, Yu Zhong, Jack Elia, Andres Osvet, Jianchang Wu, Chao Liu, Zhongquan Wan, Chunyang Jia, Ning Li, Jens Hauch, Christoph J. Brabec
Summary: The study identified stable perovskite compositions under heat and light stress and proposed a bilayer polymer contact structure that enabled over 1,400 hours of stable operation at 65 degrees Celsius for perovskite solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kaicheng Zhang, Andreas Spaeth, Osbel Almora, Vincent M. Le Corre, Jonas Wortmann, Jiyun Zhang, Zhiqiang Xie, Anastasia Barabash, Maria S. Hammer, Thomas Heumueller, Jie Min, Rainer Fink, Larry Lueer, Ning Li, Christoph J. Brabec
Summary: The introduction of a Lewis base and hydrazinium iodide effectively passivates the bulk and surface of Pb/Sn PSCs, resulting in a significant improvement in power conversion efficiency and stability.
ACS ENERGY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ligang Yuan, Weiya Zhu, Yiheng Zhang, Yuan Li, Christopher C. S. Chan, Minchao Qin, Jianhang Qiu, Kaicheng Zhang, Jiaxing Huang, Jiarong Wang, Huiming Luo, Zheng Zhang, Ruipeng Chen, Weixuan Liang, Qi Wei, Kam Sing Wong, Xinhui Lu, Ning Li, Christoph J. Brabec, Liming Ding, Keyou Yan
Summary: Researchers have developed a dopant-free hole transport material (HTM) to improve the stability of n-i-p perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This new material has shown high power conversion efficiency and long-term stability.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jihoon Lee, Soyeong Jang, Vellaiappillai Tamilavan, Ning Li, Rong Wang, Larry Lueer, Dalyong Lee, Jung Won Yoon, Bo Ram Lee, Hyosung Choi, Sung Heum Park, Christoph J. Brabec
Summary: Despite the dominance of bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) structure in the fabrication of organic solar cells (OSCs) due to its higher power conversion efficiency (PCE), this study investigates four different types of bilayer OSC structures using sequential processing (SP) with an additive bilayer and demonstrates considerably enhanced device performance. Through the introduction of a wide bandgap polymer and PCBM materials, the PCE of the conventional bilayer structure is improved from 2.88% to 6.62%. Moreover, remarkable PCEs of 8.78% and 15.16% for PTB7-Th/PCBM and PM6/Y6 bilayer OSCs, respectively, are achieved using the SP with additive bilayer method, successfully addressing the inhomogeneity issues of the BHJ structure.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Huan Zhao, Zhipeng Yin, Pengcheng Gu, Yang Liu, WeiYan Wang, Huahang Lai, Hai-Qiao Wang, Ning Li, Weijie Song
Summary: The current state-of-the-art organic solar cells (OSCs) commonly use halogenated materials and solvents, which can be corrosive and harmful to the environment. Therefore, it is meaningful to explore and develop efficient and stable OSCs based on halogen-free materials and solvents. Researchers have successfully demonstrated that fully halogen-free OSCs can achieve efficient performance with an efficiency of 10.42% and superior thermal stability, due to the use of nonhalogenated active blend and processing solvent, which inhibit corrosion and preserve the initial efficiency for a prolonged period of time under high temperature conditions.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Min Li, Kangning Zhang, Jiawei Qiao, Qian Wang, Linghua Wang, Ming Sun, Lei Ying, Ning Li, Peng Lu, Hang Yin, Xiaoyan Du, Xiaotao Hao
Summary: The investigation of scalable coating techniques for high-performance photoactive materials involves studying the drying dynamics and kinetic quenching depth related degradation. The optimized PM6:BTP-eC9-based organic solar cells achieve power conversion efficiencies up to 16.81% by controlling film formation kinetics. The photoluminescence lifetime distribution serves as an alternative probe for the kinetic quenching depth, governing the degradation rate and providing mechanistic understanding of long-term stability.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kaicheng Zhang, Andrej Vincze, Ezzeldin Metwalli, Jiyun Zhang, Chao Liu, Wei Meng, Boxue Zhang, Jingjing Tian, Thomas Heumueller, Zhiqiang Xie, Junsheng Luo, Andres Osvet, Tobias Unruh, Larry Lueer, Ning Li, Christoph J. Brabec
Summary: The mechanisms of strain tailoring and defect passivation in mixed lead and tin perovskite solar cells by 2D ligands were investigated. It was found that a mixture of long and short alkyl chain ligands could balance the tensile strain and improve the performance and stability of the solar cells.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chao Liu, Larry Lueer, Vincent M. Le Corre, Karen Forberich, Paul Weitz, Thomas Heumueller, Xiaoyan Du, Jonas Wortmann, Jiyun Zhang, Jerrit Wagner, Lei Ying, Jens Hauch, Ning Li, Christoph J. Brabec
Summary: Organic solar cells (OSCs) have achieved power conversion efficiencies of nearly 20%. However, in order to enter the mass market, challenges in upscaling and operational lifetime need to be addressed, specifically related to the connection between processing conditions and active layer morphology. This study demonstrates a method combining automated experiments and data-driven analysis to establish causal relationships between processing conditions, morphology, and stability. The findings provide valuable insights into improving device stability by tuning microstructure morphology and predicting microstructural features based on processing parameters, crucial for large-scale production of OSCs.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Letter
Chemistry, Physical
Zijian Peng, Jingjing Tian, Kaicheng Zhang, Albert These, Zhiqiang Xie, Yicheng Zhao, Andres Osvet, Fei Guo, Larry Lueer, Ning Li, Christoph J. Brabec
Summary: CsPbI2Br is a promising photovoltaic material, but the perovskite solar cells with p-i-n configuration have limitations in terms of open-circuit voltage (V-OC) and fill factor (FF). To address this, fullerene ICBA was used as the electron charge transporting layer (ETL) to enhance interfacial contact and quasi-Fermi level splitting (QFLS). By adding an ultrathin phenethylammonium chloride (PEACl) layer, V-OC losses were further reduced by approximately 0.1 V. Surface recombination passivation contributed only 20 mV to the V-OC improvement, while dedoping the perovskite surface resulted in a significant increase of 80 mV, removing an electron extraction barrier.
ACS ENERGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Juan S. S. Rocha-Ortiz, Jianchang C. Wu, Jonas Wenzel, Andreas J. J. Bornschlegl, Jose Dario Perea, Salvador Leon, Anastasia Barabash, Anna-Sophie Wollny, Dirk M. M. Guldi, Jiyun Zhang, Alberto Insuasty, Larry Lueer, Alejandro Ortiz, Andreas Hirsch, Christoph J. J. Brabec
Summary: Dumbbell-shaped systems based on PAHs-BODIPY-triarylamine hybrids TM-(01-04) are designed and employed as hole-transporting materials in planar inverted perovskite solar cells, exhibiting remarkable stability and high power conversion efficiency. The conjugated pi-system's covalent attachment and size are found to influence the energy transfer within the systems. Integrating these systems into the solar cells results in outstanding power conversion efficiency, with TM-02-based devices achieving a PCE of 20.26%. The long-term stability of these devices is also measured, with TM-04-based device showing the highest stability of 94%.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianchang Wu, Jiyun Zhang, Manman Hu, Patrick Reiser, Luca Torresi, Pascal Friederich, Leopold Lahn, Olga Kasian, Dirk M. Guldi, M. Eugenia Perez-Ojeda, Anastasia Barabash, Juan S. Rocha-Ortiz, Yicheng Zhao, Zhiqiang Xie, Junsheng Luo, Yunuo Wang, Sang Il Seok, Jens A. Hauch, Christoph J. Brabec
Summary: High-throughput synthesis of structurally variable and solution-processable small-molecule semiconductors presents both opportunities and challenges. The large number of diverse molecules allows for rapid material discovery and machine learning based on experimental data. However, the complexity of molecular properties, such as solubility, polarity, and crystallinity, poses significant challenges to solution processing and purification. In this study, an integrated system for high-throughput synthesis, purification, and characterization of diverse molecules is reported. The platform combines theoretical calculations and a robotic platform to accelerate purification processes, leading to the creation of a material library containing 125 molecules and their optical-electronic properties within a few weeks. The high repeatability of the designed recrystallization method is an important step towards further optimization and industrial production.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jiyun Zhang, Bowen Liu, Ziyi Liu, Jianchang Wu, Simon Arnold, Hongyang Shi, Tobias Osterrieder, Jens A. Hauch, Zhenni Wu, Junsheng Luo, Jerrit Wagner, Christian G. Berger, Tobias Stubhan, Frederik Schmitt, Kaicheng Zhang, Mykhailo Sytnyk, Thomas Heumueller, Carolin M. Sutter-Fella, Ian Marius Peters, Yicheng Zhao, Christoph J. Brabec
Summary: This article presents a fully automated platform called SPINBOT for optimizing the processing parameters of solution-processed functional thin films. Through unsupervised processing, the SPINBOT explores a complex parameter space and continuously improves the quality and reproducibility of the produced films. With the integration of machine learning, the SPINBOT efficiently achieves an impressive power conversion efficiency of 21.6% in solar cells under ambient conditions, along with excellent long-term stability.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jiyun Zhang, Jianchang Wu, Yicheng Zhao, Yuqin Zou, Anastasia Barabash, Zhenni Wu, Kaicheng Zhang, Can Deng, Jack Elia, Chaohui Li, Juan S. Rocha-Ortiz, Chao Liu, Abdus Saboor, Ian Marius Peters, Jens A. Hauch, Christoph J. Brabec
Summary: Introducing large organic cations has been proven effective in stabilizing three-dimensional perovskites. In this study, 28 Ruddlesden-Popper-type quasi-2D perovskites were synthesized using four aromatic-based cations, and their optoelectronic properties, structural properties, and thermal stability were investigated. Surprisingly, longer-chain cations exhibited poorer stability, which can be attributed to latticed distortion and a mismatched phase. On the other hand, films containing certain cations maintained robust structural stability due to distinctive crystallization kinetics and a phase transformation process induced by steric hindrance.
ACS ENERGY LETTERS
(2023)