Down-converting ultraviolet light using a conductive passivator to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2024-11, Vol.12 (43), p.29571-29579
• Main Authors: Yu, Honglei, He, Zhengyan, Liu, Xiangheng, Zhang, Zhiqiang, Li, Yongjia, Zhang, Shufang, Zhang, Qi, Yao, Changlin, Zhong, Hai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Crystal defects; Crystal growth; Efficiency; Electrical properties; Energy conversion efficiency; Functional groups; Leakage; Optical properties; Organic compounds; Perovskites; Photoelectric effect; Photoelectric properties; Photoelectricity; Photovoltaic cells; Solar cells; Surface stability; Tin dioxide; Ultraviolet radiation
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/d4ta05782a

The significant progress of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in the past decade has shown enormous potential for industrialization; however, several critical issues such as long-term stability and potential lead leakage still need to be addressed. It is a practical challenge to overcome these issues through one approach. Herein, we introduce an ultraviolet absorbent and conductive passivation agent 4,4′-diaminostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DSDA) into SnO 2 to down-convert ultraviolet light into visible light and enhance the conductivity of SnO 2 , thereby improving the light-stability and performance of PSCs. The amphoteric DSDA molecule with four functional groups can also passivate defects on the surface of SnO 2 films, affect the crystal growth of the perovskite layer, and provide in situ protection against lead leakage. Our results show that the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSCs increases evidently from 22.95% to 25.09% owing to the simultaneous enhancement of the photoelectric properties of SnO 2 films and the critical SnO 2 /perovskite interfaces by adding DSDA into SnO 2 films. Importantly, the DSDA-optimized PSCs without encapsulation exhibited enhanced operational and UV-light stability, as well as in situ fixation of leaked lead ions. This simultaneous enhancement of both optical and electrical properties of functional layers via adding a multifunctional organic compound provides an efficient strategy to effectively improve the efficiency and long-term stability of PSCs. DSDA simultaneously down-converts ultraviolet light and enhances the conductivity of SnO 2 ; DSDA effectively passivates defects at the SnO 2 /perovskite interface while providing in situ protection against lead leakage.