Bioinspired molecules design for bilateral synergistic passivation in buried interfaces of planar perovskite solar cells

• Published in: Nano research 2022-02, Vol.15 (2), p.1069-1078
• Main Authors: Wang, Bin, Ma, Junjie, Li, Zehua, Chen, Gangshu, Gu, Qiang, Chen, Shuyao, Zhang, Yiqiang, Song, Yanlin, Chen, Jingbo, Pi, Xiaodong, Yu, Xuegong, Yang, Deren
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra; Biomedicine; Biomimetics; Biotechnology; Catechol; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Crosslinking; Dihydroxyphenylalanine; Energy conversion efficiency; Energy dissipation; Energy loss; Interfaces; Lasers; Lead; Lewis base; Light emitting diodes; Materials Science; Mussels; Nanotechnology; Optoelectronic devices; Passivity; Perovskites; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; Propionic acid; Relative humidity; Research Article; Room temperature; Solar cells; Solar energy; Tin dioxide
• ISSN: 1998-0124; 1998-0000
• DOI: 10.1007/s12274-021-3600-z

Trap-mediated energy loss in the buried interface with non-exposed feature constitutes one of the serious challenges for achieving high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Inspired by the adhesion mechanism of mussels, herein, three catechol derivatives with functional Lewis base groups, namely 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), 3,4-Dihydroxyphenethylamine (DA) and 3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (DPPA), were strategically designed. These molecules as interfacial linkers are incorporated into the buried interface between perovskite and SnO 2 surface, achieving bilateral synergetic passivation effect. The crosslinking can produce secondary bonding with the undercoordinated Pb 2+ and Sn 4+ exhibited the best performance and operational stability. Upon the DOPA passivation, a stabilized power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.5% was demonstrated for the planar PSCs. After 55 days of room-temperature storage, the unencapsulated devices with the DOPA crosslinker could still maintain 85% of their initial performance in air under relative humidity of ≈15%. This work opens up a new strategy for passivating the buried interfaces of perovskite photovoltaics and also provides important insights into designing defect passivation agents for other perovskite optoelectronic devices, such as light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, and lasers.