Efficient defect passivation with niacin for high-performance and stable perovskite solar cells. Issue 19 (5th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ren, Jing; Wang, Shurong; Xia, Jianxing; Li, Chengbo; Xie, Lisha; He, Hongcai; Niu, Xiaobin; Zhao, Qiang; Hao, Feng
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 9:Issue 19(2021)
• Page Start: 6217
• Page End: 6224
• Publication Date: 2021-05-05
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d1tc00886b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7526

Abstract

Abstract : 3-Picolinic acid (niacin) is utilized to coordinate with Pb 2+, passivate the defects and control the perovskite crystal growth. The resulting device achieved a PCE close to 20%, along with improved air and ultraviolet illumination stability. Abstract : Defects, inevitably produced in solution-processed halide perovskite films, can act as charge carrier recombination centers to induce severe energy loss in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Suppressing these trap states has been regarded as one of the effective strategies to improve the photovoltaic performance and stability of PSCs. Herein, a small molecule of 3-picolinic acid, a commodity chemical with a carboxyl group (–COOH) better known by its common name niacin, which can be chemically anchored to methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3 ) through the coordination effect, is introduced to passivate the defects and control the perovskite crystal growth. Highly crystalline perovskite films with a large grain size are obtained. The passivation within the perovskite via the interaction of –COOH in niacin with Pb 2+ is verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as density functional theory calculations. Consequently, the device with niacin achieved a power conversion efficiency close to 20%, along with much more enhanced air and ultraviolet illumination stability, compared to the control device.