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Title: Mechanisms for light induced degradation in MAPbI3 perovskite thin films and solar cells

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4967840· OSTI ID:1465793
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [4];  [2]
  1. Atomic Energy Authority (AEA), Nasr City, Cairo (Egypt). Dept. of Radiation Physics, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT); Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, CA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  2. Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, CA (United States). Dept. of Physics
  3. Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, CA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Chongqing Univ., Chongqing (China). College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
  4. Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, CA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
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Organometal halide perovskites are highly promising materials for photovoltaic applications, yet their rapid degradation remains a significant challenge. Here, the light-induced structural degradation mechanism of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite films and devices is studied in low humidity environment using X-Ray Diffraction, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, and device measurements. Under dry conditions, the perovskite film degrades only in the presence of both light and oxygen, which together induce the formation of halide anions through donation of electrons to the surrounding oxygen. The halide anions generate free radicals that deprotonate the methylammonium cation and form the highly volatile CH3NH2 molecules that escape and leave pure PbI2 behind. The device findings show that changes in the local structure at the TiO2 mesoporous layer occur with light, even in the absence of oxygen, and yet such changes can be prevented by the application of UV blocking layer on the cells. Our results indicate that the stability of mp-TiO2-MAPbI3 photovoltaics can be dramatically improved with effective encapsulation that protects the device from UV light, oxygen, and moisture.

Research Organization:
Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); National Science Foundation (NSF); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Grant/Contract Number:
EE0004946
OSTI ID:
1465793
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1334828
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 109, Issue 23; ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 165 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (27)

Self-Healing Inside APbBr 3 Halide Perovskite Crystals journal January 2018
Stability of Halide Perovskite Solar Cell Devices: In Situ Observation of Oxygen Diffusion under Biasing journal August 2018
Impact of White Light Illumination on the Electronic and Chemical Structures of Mixed Halide and Single Crystal Perovskites journal March 2017
Unraveling Photostability of Mixed Cation Perovskite Films in Extreme Environment journal August 2018
Unraveling the Light-Induced Degradation Mechanisms of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 Perovskite Films journal November 2017
Role of Microstructure in Oxygen Induced Photodegradation of Methylammonium Lead Triiodide Perovskite Films journal July 2017
Quantifying the Interface Defect for the Stability Origin of Perovskite Solar Cells journal August 2019
Chemical Approaches for Stabilizing Perovskite Solar Cells journal November 2019
Understanding Hydrogen Bonding Interactions in Crosslinked Methylammonium Lead Iodide Crystals: Towards Reducing Moisture and Light Degradation Pathways journal July 2019
Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals: Stability, Surface Passivation, and Structural Control journal June 2017
Revealing the Self-Degradation Mechanisms in Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskites in Dark and Vacuum journal April 2018
Mechanochemical Synthesis of Sn(II) and Sn(IV) Iodide Perovskites and Study of Their Structural, Chemical, Thermal, Optical, and Electrical Properties journal April 2020
Perovskite Quantum Dots and Their Application in Light-Emitting Diodes journal November 2017
Solar perovskite thin films with enhanced mechanical, thermal, UV, and moisture stability via vacuum-assisted deposition journal November 2019
Stability improvement under high efficiency—next stage development of perovskite solar cells journal April 2019
Effects of Chlorine Contents on Perovskite Solar Cell Structure Formed on CdS Electron Transport Layer Probed by Rutherford Backscattering journal July 2018
New-generation integrated devices based on dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells journal January 2018
Photon-generated carriers excite superoxide species inducing long-term photoluminescence enhancement of MAPbI 3 perovskite single crystals journal January 2017
Remarkable long-term stability of nanoconfined metal–halide perovskite crystals against degradation and polymorph transitions journal January 2018
A MAPbBr 3 :poly(ethylene oxide) composite perovskite quantum dot emission layer: enhanced film stability, coverage and device performance journal January 2019
Insight into the reaction mechanism of water, oxygen and nitrogen molecules on a tin iodine perovskite surface journal January 2019
Tris(ethylene diamine) nickel acetate as a promising precursor for hole transport layer in planar structured perovskite solar cells journal January 2018
Ultrahigh photo-stable all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals and their robust random lasing journal January 2020
Point defect-reduced colloidal SnO 2 electron transport layers for stable and almost hysteresis-free perovskite solar cells journal January 2019
Understanding macroscale functionality of metal halide perovskites in terms of nanoscale heterogeneities journal December 2018
Understanding Hydrogen Bonding Interactions in Crosslinked Methylammonium Lead Iodide Crystals: Towards Reducing Moisture and Light Degradation Pathways journal September 2019
Mixed-Dimensional Naphthylmethylammonium-Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskites with Improved Thermal Stability journal January 2020

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25 ENERGY STORAGE
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SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY