Perovskite solar cells are regarded as strong candidates to succeed silicon-based cells across applications like portable devices, grid systems, and aerospace technologies. Their appeal lies in their high efficiency, low production cost, and design flexibility. Among their configurations, inverted perovskite structures offer improved material stability. However, these devices are still limited by performance issues related to defect accumulation at the critical interface between the perovskite layer and the fullerene-based electron transport layer.
Led by Prof. Zhou Yuanyuan from HKUST's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Prof. Cai Songhua of PolyU's Department of Applied Physics, the team focused on engineering a novel laminated interface. This interface comprises three sequential layers: a molecular passivation layer, a fullerene derivative layer, and a two-dimensional perovskite layer. This tripartite structure significantly reduces defect density and improves energy alignment between layers.
The improved interface results in superior device performance and greater durability under conditions such as prolonged light exposure and high humidity. According to Dr. Guo Pengfei, co-first author and postdoctoral fellow at HKUST, "We introduced the concept of composite materials into the interface design of optoelectronic devices, allowing the synergistic effects of each layer in this new interface to achieve results that are unattainable with traditional interface engineering."
Prof. Zhou emphasized the importance of understanding material behavior at the micro and atomic levels. "Perovskite is a soft lattice material. We can create microstructural features in this type of material that are difficult to achieve with conventional materials. Our aim is to understand the formation and mechanisms of these microstructures at the nanoscale, or even at the atomic scale, to drive device innovation based on this fundamental understanding."
Research Report:Synthesis of a lattice-resolved laminate-structured perovskite heterointerface
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