Effect of Electron‐Transport Material on Light‐Induced Degradation of Inverted Planar Junction Perovskite Solar Cells. Issue 19 (8th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Akbulatov, Azat F.; Frolova, Lyubov A.; Griffin, Monroe P.; Gearba, Ioana R.; Dolocan, Andrei; Vanden Bout, David A.; Tsarev, Sergey; Katz, Eugene A.; Shestakov, Alexander F.; Stevenson, Keith J.; Troshin, Pavel A.
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 7:Issue 19(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-06-08
• Subjects: interdiffusion -- PCBM -- perovskite solar cells -- photochemical degradation -- TOF‐SIMS; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201700476
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract: This paper presents a systematic study of the influence of electron‐transport materials on the operation stability of the inverted perovskite solar cells under both laboratory indoor and the natural outdoor conditions in the Negev desert. It is shown that all devices incorporating a Phenyl C61 Butyric Acid Methyl ester ([60]PCBM) layer undergo rapid degradation under illumination without exposure to oxygen and moisture. Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry depth profiling reveals that volatile products from the decomposition of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3 ) films diffuse through the [60]PCBM layer, go all the way toward the top metal electrode, and induce its severe corrosion with the formation of an interfacial AgI layer. On the contrary, alternative electron‐transport material based on the perylendiimide derivative provides good isolation for the MAPbI3 films preventing their decomposition and resulting in significantly improved device operation stability. The obtained results strongly suggest that the current approach to design inverted perovskite solar cells should evolve with respect to the replacement of the commonly used fullerene‐based electron‐transport layers with other types of materials (e.g., functionalized perylene diimides). It is believed that these findings pave a way toward substantial improvements in the stability of the perovskite solar cells, which are essential for successful commercialization of this photovoltaic technology. Abstract : Diffusion of CH3 NH3 I and other volatile products of photodegradation of CH3 NH3 PbI3 into the [60]PCBM electron‐transport layer represents the key failure mechanism of inverted hybrid perovskite solar cells.