Engineering of ambient processing conditions to control solvent induced intermediate phase in mixed halide organic-inorganic perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3−xClx) film for efficient planar perovskite solar cells

One of the challenges with organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite films, is its degradation from moisture present in ambient atmosphere, which severely restricts its crystallization process using thermal annealing in ambient air having high humidity levels. A widely used method for perovskite film crystallization is use of thermal annealing in inert atmosphere to rapidly crystallize the film in perovskite phase, immediately after its deposition. Herein, we have explored several methods of crystallization of mixed-halide perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3-xClx) film crystallization in ambient air with an aim to obtain high crystallinity and complete conversion to perovskite phase in ambient air assisted with and without thermal annealing. We optimized the crystallization process of perovskite film by exposing the film in ambient air, partially exposure to air followed by thermal annealing, exposing it to air-flow at room temperature. Perovskite films were spin coated inside the N2 filled glove box and immediately were taken outside in air with 40% relative humidity (RH). Crystallized mixed-halide perovskite films obtained from different approaches were then used to fabricate planar perovskite solar cells with device structure as ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CH3NH3PbI3-xClx/PC60BM/Rhodamine/Ag. It was concluded that humidity plays an important role in crystallization of perovskite films in ambient air, but additional treatment could lead to improved perovskite crystallinity.

[1]  Q. Qiao,et al.  Interfacial Study To Suppress Charge Carrier Recombination for High Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells. , 2015, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[2]  Lifeng Zhang,et al.  Dye-sensitized solar cells based on spray-coated carbon nanofiber/TiO2 nanoparticle composite counter electrodes , 2014 .

[3]  Q. Qiao,et al.  Morphological Evolution and Its Impacts on Performance of Polymer Solar Cells , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices.

[4]  Q. Qiao,et al.  Improved performance by morphology control via fullerenes in PBDT-TBT-alkoBT based organic solar cells , 2015 .

[5]  Q. Qiao,et al.  Critical role of domain crystallinity, domain purity and domain interface sharpness for reduced bimolecular recombination in polymer solar cells , 2015 .

[6]  Q. Qiao,et al.  Origin of photogenerated carrier recombination at the metal-active layer interface in polymer solar cells. , 2015, Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP.

[7]  Sang Il Seok,et al.  Solvent engineering for high-performance inorganic-organic hybrid perovskite solar cells. , 2014, Nature materials.

[8]  Shelf life stability comparison in air for solution processed pristine PDPP3T polymer and doped spiro-OMeTAD as hole transport layer for perovskite solar cell , 2016, Data in brief.

[9]  Ashish Dubey,et al.  Interplay of nanoscale domain purity and size on charge transport and recombination dynamics in polymer solar cells. , 2014, Nanoscale.

[10]  Qingfeng Dong,et al.  Efficient, high yield perovskite photovoltaic devices grown by interdiffusion of solution-processed precursor stacking layers , 2014 .

[11]  Qiquan Qiao,et al.  Ring-protected small molecules for organic photovoltaics , 2013, Optics & Photonics - Photonic Devices + Applications.

[12]  Furkan H. Isikgor,et al.  Efficiency enhancement of planar perovskite solar cells by adding zwitterion/LiF double interlayers for electron collection. , 2015, Nanoscale.

[13]  Q. Qiao,et al.  Solution processed pristine PDPP3T polymer as hole transport layer for efficient perovskite solar cells with slower degradation , 2016 .

[14]  Yani Chen,et al.  Non-Thermal Annealing Fabrication of Efficient Planar Perovskite Solar Cells with Inclusion of NH4Cl , 2015 .

[15]  Ashish Dubey,et al.  Polymer Solar Cells Processed Using Anisole as a Relatively Nontoxic Solvent , 2014 .

[16]  Kai Zhu,et al.  Room-temperature crystallization of hybrid-perovskite thin films via solvent–solvent extraction for high-performance solar cells , 2015 .

[17]  Q. Qiao,et al.  Benzothiadiazole-based polymer for single and double junction solar cells with high open circuit voltage. , 2014, Nanoscale.

[18]  Q. Qiao,et al.  Low temperature efficient interconnecting layer for tandem polymer solar cells , 2015 .

[19]  Q. Qiao,et al.  Strategic review of secondary phases, defects and defect-complexes in kesterite CZTS–Se solar cells , 2015 .

[20]  Eman A. Gaml,et al.  Crystallization of a perovskite film for higher performance solar cells by controlling water concentration in methyl ammonium iodide precursor solution. , 2016, Nanoscale.

[21]  Neil C Greenham,et al.  Polymer solar cells , 2013, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences.

[22]  Ashish Dubey,et al.  Device and morphological engineering of organic solar cells for enhanced charge transport and photovoltaic performance , 2015 .