skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Correlation of energy disorder and open-circuit voltage in hybrid perovskite solar cells

Journal Article · · Nature Energy
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE (United States)

Organometal trihalide perovskites have been demonstrated as excellent light absorbers for high efficiency photovoltaic applications. Previous approaches to increasing the solar cell efficiency have focussed on optimisation of the grain morphology of perovskite thin films. Here, we show that the structural order of the electron-transport layers also has a significant impact on solar cell performance. We demonstrate that the power conversion efficiency of CH3NH3PbI3 planar-heterojunction photovoltaic cells increases from 17.1% to 19.4% when the energy disorder in the fullerene electron-transport layer is reduced by a simple solvent annealing process. The increase in efficiency is the result of the enhancement in open-circuit voltage from 1.04 V to 1.13 V without sacrificing the short-circuit current and fill factor. Finally, these results shed light on the origin of open-circuit voltage in perovskite solar cells, and provide a new path to further increase their efficiency

Research Organization:
Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
EE0006709
OSTI ID:
1342748
Journal Information:
Nature Energy, Vol. 1, Issue 1; ISSN 2058-7546
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 493 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (39)

The emergence of perovskite solar cells journal July 2014
Perovskites: The Emergence of a New Era for Low-Cost, High-Efficiency Solar Cells journal October 2013
Electron-hole diffusion lengths > 175 μm in solution-grown CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 single crystals journal January 2015
Low-temperature solution-processed wavelength-tunable perovskites for lasing journal March 2014
Efficient planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells by vapour deposition journal September 2013
Efficient Hybrid Solar Cells Based on Meso-Superstructured Organometal Halide Perovskites journal October 2012
High-Performance Perovskite-Polymer Hybrid Solar Cells via Electronic Coupling with Fullerene Monolayers journal June 2013
Electron-Hole Diffusion Lengths Exceeding 1 Micrometer in an Organometal Trihalide Perovskite Absorber journal October 2013
Efficient inorganic–organic hybrid heterojunction solar cells containing perovskite compound and polymeric hole conductors journal May 2013
Solvent Annealing of Perovskite-Induced Crystal Growth for Photovoltaic-Device Efficiency Enhancement journal August 2014
Hall mobility in tin iodide perovskite CH3NH3SnI3: Evidence for a doped semiconductor journal September 2013
High Charge Carrier Mobilities and Lifetimes in Organolead Trihalide Perovskites journal December 2013
Unusual defect physics in CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 perovskite solar cell absorber journal February 2014
Organometal Halide Perovskites as Visible-Light Sensitizers for Photovoltaic Cells journal May 2009
Compositional engineering of perovskite materials for high-performance solar cells journal January 2015
Solar cell efficiency tables (Version 45): Solar cell efficiency tables journal December 2014
Solvent engineering for high-performance inorganic–organic hybrid perovskite solar cells journal July 2014
Perovskite–fullerene hybrid materials suppress hysteresis in planar diodes journal May 2015
Large fill-factor bilayer iodine perovskite solar cells fabricated by a low-temperature solution-process journal January 2014
Disorder-Induced Open-Circuit Voltage Losses in Organic Solar Cells During Photoinduced Burn-In journal May 2015
Relationship between energetic disorder and open-circuit voltage in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells journal August 2011
Perovskite solar cells with a planar heterojunction structure prepared using room-temperature solution processing techniques journal December 2013
Voltage output of efficient perovskite solar cells with high open-circuit voltage and fill factor journal January 2014
Efficient, high yield perovskite photovoltaic devices grown by interdiffusion of solution-processed precursor stacking layers journal January 2014
Interface engineering of highly efficient perovskite solar cells journal July 2014
Non-wetting surface-driven high-aspect-ratio crystalline grain growth for efficient hybrid perovskite solar cells journal July 2015
Origin and elimination of photocurrent hysteresis by fullerene passivation in CH3NH3PbI3 planar heterojunction solar cells journal December 2014
Study of field effect mobility in PCBM films and P3HT:PCBM blends journal May 2005
Femtosecond Time-Resolved Fluorescence Study of P3HT/PCBM Blend Films journal August 2010
“Solvent Annealing” Effect in Polymer Solar Cells Based on Poly(3-hexylthiophene) and Methanofullerenes journal July 2007
High-efficiency solution processable polymer photovoltaic cells by self-organization of polymer blends journal October 2005
Description of the nanostructured morphology of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) by XRD, DSC and solid-state NMR journal March 2011
Interpretation of electron diffusion coefficient in organic and inorganic semiconductors with broad distributions of states journal January 2008
Capacitance, spectroelectrochemistry and conductivity of polarons and bipolarons in a polydicarbazole based conducting polymer journal March 2008
Electron Transport in a Methanofullerene journal January 2003
Distinct Exciton Dissociation Behavior of Organolead Trihalide Perovskite and Excitonic Semiconductors Studied in the Same System journal January 2015
Static and Dynamic Energetic Disorders in the C 60 , PC 61 BM, C 70 , and PC 71 BM Fullerenes journal August 2015
Non-wetting surface-driven high-aspect-ratio crystalline grain growth for efficient hybrid perovskite solar cells text January 2015
Origin and elimination of photocurrent hysteresis by fullerene passivation in CH3NH3PbI3 planar heterojunction solar cells text January 2014

Cited By (147)

High-Performance Inverted Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Lead Acetate Precursor with Efficiency Exceeding 18% journal April 2016
Conjugated Small Molecule for Efficient Hole Transport in High-Performance p-i-n Type Perovskite Solar Cells journal July 2017
In Situ Growth of 2D Perovskite Capping Layer for Stable and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells journal February 2018
Probing and Controlling Intragrain Crystallinity for Improved Low Temperature-Processed Perovskite Solar Cells journal November 2018
A Review of Perovskites Solar Cell Stability journal February 2019
High Efficiency Planar p‐i‐n Perovskite Solar Cells Using Low‐Cost Fluorene‐Based Hole Transporting Material journal April 2019
Phenylalkylamine Passivation of Organolead Halide Perovskites Enabling High-Efficiency and Air-Stable Photovoltaic Cells journal September 2016
Achieving Large-Area Planar Perovskite Solar Cells by Introducing an Interfacial Compatibilizer journal April 2017
Chemical Reduction of Intrinsic Defects in Thicker Heterojunction Planar Perovskite Solar Cells journal April 2017
Reduced Interface-Mediated Recombination for High Open-Circuit Voltages in CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 Solar Cells journal May 2017
Matching Charge Extraction Contact for Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells journal May 2017
Causes and Solutions of Recombination in Perovskite Solar Cells journal September 2018
From Lead Halide Perovskites to Lead‐Free Metal Halide Perovskites and Perovskite Derivatives journal January 2019
Defect and Contact Passivation for Perovskite Solar Cells journal April 2019
Nonradiative Recombination in Perovskite Solar Cells: The Role of Interfaces journal October 2019
Targeted Therapy for Interfacial Engineering Toward Stable and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells journal August 2019
Modulate Molecular Interaction between Hole Extraction Polymers and Lead Ions toward Hysteresis-Free and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells journal June 2018
Effect of the Device Architecture on the Performance of FA 0.85 MA 0.15 PbBr 0.45 I 2.55 Planar Perovskite Solar Cells journal February 2019
Enhanced Uniformity and Stability of Pb–Sn Perovskite Solar Cells via Me 4 NBr Passivation journal May 2019
Managing Energy Loss in Inorganic Lead Halide Perovskites Solar Cells journal September 2019
Flexible Linearly Polarized Photodetectors Based on All-Inorganic Perovskite CsPbI 3 Nanowires journal September 2018
Engineering of the Back Contact between PCBM and Metal Electrode for Planar Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Efficiency and Stability journal June 2019
Correlation between Electronic Defect States Distribution and Device Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells journal July 2017
Progress in Theoretical Study of Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cell Materials journal August 2017
Circumventing UV Light Induced Nanomorphology Disorder to Achieve Long Lifetime PTB7-Th:PCBM Based Solar Cells journal July 2017
p-Type CuI Islands on TiO 2 Electron Transport Layer for a Highly Efficient Planar-Perovskite Solar Cell with Negligible Hysteresis journal October 2017
Improving the Performance and Stability of Inverted Planar Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells Employing a Novel NDI-Based Polymer as the Electron Transport Layer journal February 2018
Exploring Inorganic Binary Alkaline Halide to Passivate Defects in Low-Temperature-Processed Planar-Structure Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells journal April 2018
Toward Long-Term Stable and Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells via Effective Charge Transporting Materials journal May 2018
Dithiafulvenyl-Naphthalenediimide-based Small Molecules as efficient Non-Fullerene Electron-Transport Layer for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells journal August 2018
Verringerung schädlicher Defekte für leistungsstarke Metallhalogenid‐Perowskit‐Solarzellen journal April 2020
Reducing Detrimental Defects for High‐Performance Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells journal January 2020
Low Temperature Solution-Processed Sb:SnO 2 Nanocrystals for Efficient Planar Perovskite Solar Cells journal August 2016
Improving the Performance of Formamidinium and Cesium Lead Triiodide Perovskite Solar Cells using Lead Thiocyanate Additives journal October 2016
Recent Progress in High‐efficiency Planar‐structure Perovskite Solar Cells journal June 2019
High Open Circuit Voltage for Perovskite Solar Cells with S,Si-Heteropentacene-Based Hole Conductors: High Open Circuit Voltage for Perovskite Solar Cells with S,Si-Heteropentacene-Based Hole Conductors journal November 2018
Improving the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells Through Solvent Vapor Annealing-based Morphology Control of the Hole-Transport Layer journal May 2018
Emerging solar cells energy trade-off: Interface engineering materials impact on stability and efficiency progress journal November 2018
Electronic Structure Evolution in Tricomponent Metal Phosphides with Reduced Activation Energy for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution journal August 2018
High‐Performance Inverted Planar Perovskite Solar Cells Enhanced by Thickness Tuning of New Dopant‐Free Hole Transporting Layer journal October 2019
Performance Enhancement of Perovskite Solar Cells Induced by Lead Acetate as an Additive journal April 2018
Inhibition of In‐Plane Charge Transport in Hole Transfer Layer to Achieve High Fill Factor for Inverted Planar Perovskite Solar Cells journal May 2019
Growth of Amorphous Passivation Layer Using Phenethylammonium Iodide for High‐Performance Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells journal July 2019
Interfacial Post‐Treatment for Enhancing the Performance of Printable Carbon‐Based Perovskite Solar Cells journal July 2019
NH 4 Cl‐Modified ZnO for High‐Performance CsPbIBr 2 Perovskite Solar Cells via Low‐Temperature Process journal October 2019
Low-Temperature Processable Charge Transporting Materials for the Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells journal June 2018
Defective TiO2 with high photoconductive gain for efficient and stable planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells journal August 2016
Perovskite solar cells with 18.21% efficiency and area over 1 cm2 fabricated by heterojunction engineering journal September 2016
Enhanced stability and efficiency in hole-transport-layer-free CsSnI3 perovskite photovoltaics journal November 2016
Low-bandgap mixed tin–lead iodide perovskite absorbers with long carrier lifetimes for all-perovskite tandem solar cells journal March 2017
Dipolar cations confer defect tolerance in wide-bandgap metal halide perovskites journal August 2018
Reconfiguration of interfacial energy band structure for high-performance inverted structure perovskite solar cells journal October 2019
Highly efficient and stable inverted perovskite solar cell employing PEDOT:GO composite layer as a hole transport layer journal January 2018
Ultrasmooth metal halide perovskite thin films via sol–gel processing journal January 2016
Comparative density functional theory–density functional tight binding study of fullerene derivatives: effects due to fullerene size, addends, and crystallinity on band structure, charge transport and optical properties journal January 2017
Recent progress in hybrid perovskite solar cells based on n-type materials journal January 2017
Fluorinated fused nonacyclic interfacial materials for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells journal January 2017
Mixed (5-AVA) x MA 1−x PbI 3−y (BF 4 ) y perovskites enhance the photovoltaic performance of hole-conductor-free printable mesoscopic solar cells journal January 2018
Alcohol based vapor annealing of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) layer for performance improvement of inverted perovskite solar cells journal January 2018
Interfacial engineering enables high efficiency with a high open-circuit voltage above 1.23 V in 2D perovskite solar cells journal January 2018
The introduction of a perovskite seed layer for high performance perovskite solar cells journal January 2018
Bi-functional additive engineering for high-performance perovskite solar cells with reduced trap density journal January 2019
Acene-based organic semiconductors for organic light-emitting diodes and perovskite solar cells journal January 2018
Nickel phthalocyanine as an excellent hole-transport material in inverted planar perovskite solar cells journal January 2019
Boosting inverted perovskite solar cell performance by using 9,9-bis(4-diphenylaminophenyl)fluorene functionalized with triphenylamine as a dopant-free hole transporting material journal January 2019
A polyaspartic acid sodium interfacial layer enhances surface trap passivation in perovskite solar cells journal January 2019
Enhanced stability and photovoltage for inverted perovskite solar cells via precursor engineering journal January 2019
Research Update: Recombination and open-circuit voltage in lead-halide perovskites journal October 2018
Thin‐film solar cells exceeding 22% solar cell efficiency: An overview on CdTe-, Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 -, and perovskite-based materials journal December 2018
Perovskite solar cells: must lead be replaced – and can it be done? journal May 2018
On the origin of open-circuit voltage losses in flexible n-i-p perovskite solar cells journal July 2019
Enhancement of photocurrent extraction and electron injection in dual-functional CH 3 NH 3 PbBr 3 perovskite-based optoelectronic devices via interfacial engineering journal May 2018
A Review: Thermal Stability of Methylammonium Lead Halide Based Perovskite Solar Cells journal January 2019
Materials toward the Upscaling of Perovskite Solar Cells: Progress, Challenges, and Strategies journal November 2018
Conjugated Molecules “Bridge”: Functional Ligand toward Highly Efficient and Long‐Term Stable Perovskite Solar Cell journal February 2019
Employing Lead Thiocyanate Additive to Reduce the Hysteresis and Boost the Fill Factor of Planar Perovskite Solar Cells journal May 2016
Thin Insulating Tunneling Contacts for Efficient and Water-Resistant Perovskite Solar Cells journal May 2016
Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells: Progresses and Perspectives journal May 2016
Ionic Liquid Control Crystal Growth to Enhance Planar Perovskite Solar Cells Efficiency journal July 2016
Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Monolithically Grained CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 Film journal December 2016
Improving Interfacial Charge Recombination in Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Photovoltaics with Small Molecule as Electron Transport Layer journal May 2017
Synergic Interface Optimization with Green Solvent Engineering in Mixed Perovskite Solar Cells journal July 2017
Interfaces in Perovskite Solar Cells journal August 2017
Interface Modification by Ionic Liquid: A Promising Candidate for Indoor Light Harvesting and Stability Improvement of Planar Perovskite Solar Cells journal July 2018
The Role of Charge Selective Contacts in Perovskite Solar Cell Stability journal December 2018
Enhancing the Open‐Circuit Voltage of Perovskite Solar Cells by up to 120 mV Using π‐Extended Phosphoniumfluorene Electrolytes as Hole Blocking Layers journal June 2019
Carbon Materials in Perovskite Solar Cells: Prospects and Future Challenges journal June 2019
Recent Progress in Organic Electron Transport Materials in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells journal April 2019
Electron-Transport Materials in Perovskite Solar Cells journal July 2018
From Macroscopic to Nanoscopic Current Hysteresis Suppressed by Fullerene in Perovskite Solar Cells journal August 2019
Porphyrin based hole transport layers for enhanced charge transport and stability in perovskite solar cells journal March 2019
Understanding the physical properties of hybrid perovskites for photovoltaic applications journal July 2017
Defects in perovskite-halides and their effects in solar cells journal October 2016
Tailoring vertical phase distribution of quasi-two-dimensional perovskite films via surface modification of hole-transporting layer journal February 2019
Efficient two-terminal all-perovskite tandem solar cells enabled by high-quality low-bandgap absorber layers journal November 2018
Charge-transfer electronic states in organic solar cells journal September 2019
Minimizing non-radiative recombination losses in perovskite solar cells journal November 2019
Achieving high-performance planar perovskite solar cells with co-sputtered Co-doping NiO x hole transport layers by efficient extraction and enhanced mobility journal January 2016
Fullerene derivative with a branched alkyl chain exhibits enhanced charge extraction and stability in inverted planar perovskite solar cells journal January 2018
Enhanced photoluminescence of CsPbBr 3 @Ag hybrid perovskite quantum dots journal January 2017
Photocarrier dynamics in perovskite-based solar cells revealed by intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy journal January 2018
Improving the electron transport performance by changing side chains in sulfur-containing azaacenes: a combined theoretical investigation on free molecules and an adsorption system journal January 2019
Improved performance and stability of perovskite solar cells with bilayer electron-transporting layers journal January 2018
Inverted perovskite solar cells with transparent hole transporting layer based on semiconducting nickel oxide
  • Di Girolamo, Diego; Matteocci, Fabio; Lamanna, Enrico
  • EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES: MICRO TO NANO (ETMN-2017): Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Emerging Technologies: Micro to Nano, AIP Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5047765
conference January 2018
Unraveling surface and bulk trap states in lead halide perovskite solar cells using impedance spectroscopy journal February 2018
Origins of the s-shape characteristic in JV curve of inverted-type perovskite solar cells journal December 2019
Efficient and stable solution-processed planar perovskite solar cells via contact passivation journal February 2017
Matching Charge Extraction Contact for Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells text January 2017
Argon Plasma Treatment to Tune Perovskite Surface Composition for High Efficiency Solar Cells and Fast Photodetectors text January 2018
Light-Responsive Ion-Redistribution-Induced Resistive Switching in Hybrid Perovskite Schottky Junctions journal November 2017
A Dual‐Retarded Reaction Processed Mixed‐Cation Perovskite Layer for High‐Efficiency Solar Cells journal January 2019
Engineering of the Electron Transport Layer/Perovskite Interface in Solar Cells Designed on TiO 2 Rutile Nanorods journal January 2020
Fully Solution-Processed n-i-p-Like Perovskite Solar Cells with Planar Junction: How the Charge Extracting Layer Determines the Open-Circuit Voltage journal January 2017
π-Conjugated Lewis Base: Efficient Trap-Passivation and Charge-Extraction for Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells journal December 2016
Dual-Source Precursor Approach for Highly Efficient Inverted Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells journal March 2017
Tailoring C 60 for Efficient Inorganic CsPbI 2 Br Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules journal January 2020
Hierarchical Dual-Scaffolds Enhance Charge Separation and Collection for High Efficiency Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells journal July 2016
Fullerene-Based Materials for Photovoltaic Applications: Toward Efficient, Hysteresis-Free, and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells journal December 2017
Interface Engineering for Highly Efficient and Stable Planar p-i-n Perovskite Solar Cells journal November 2017
Charge‐Transfer States at Organic–Organic Interfaces: Impact of Static and Dynamic Disorders journal February 2019
Fullerene-Based Materials as Hole-Transporting/Electron-Blocking Layers: Applications in Perovskite Solar Cells journal May 2018
Polymer Assisted Small Molecule Hole Transport Layers Toward Highly Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells journal August 2018
Molecular Engineering of the Fullerene‐Based Electron Transport Layer Materials for Improving Ambient Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells journal May 2019
Reducing Photovoltage Loss in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells by Quantum Dots Alloying Modification at Cathode Contact journal November 2019
Defect passivation in hybrid perovskite solar cells using quaternary ammonium halide anions and cations journal June 2017
Enhanced planar perovskite solar cell efficiency and stability using a perovskite/PCBM heterojunction formed in one step journal January 2018
Reduced open-circuit voltage loss for highly efficient low-bandgap perovskite solar cells via suppression of silver diffusion journal January 2019
Graphitic carbon nitride doped SnO 2 enabling efficient perovskite solar cells with PCEs exceeding 22% journal January 2020
Enhanced photovoltage for inverted planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells journal June 2018
High-performance perovskite/Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 monolithic tandem solar cells journal August 2018
Control of Crystal Growth toward Scalable Fabrication of Perovskite Solar Cells journal December 2018
Interface and Defect Engineering for Metal Halide Perovskite Optoelectronic Devices journal September 2018
Nonfullerene n‐Type Organic Semiconductors for Perovskite Solar Cells journal May 2019
Spacer layer design for efficient fully printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells journal January 2019
Enhanced optoelectronic quality of perovskite films with excess CH 3 NH 3 I for high-efficiency solar cells in ambient air journal April 2017
TiO 2 /Mg-SnO 2 nanoparticle composite compact layer for enhancing the performance of perovskite solar cells journal December 2019
Nonradiative Recombination in Perovskite Solar Cells: The Role of Interfaces text January 2019
Polymer-Passivated Inorganic Cesium Lead Mixed-Halide Perovskites for Stable and Efficient Solar Cells with High Open-Circuit Voltage over 1.3 V journal January 2018
Material and Interface Engineering for High‐Performance Perovskite Solar Cells: A Personal Journey and Perspective journal July 2019
Thermodynamically stabilized β-CsPbI 3 –based perovskite solar cells with efficiencies >18% journal August 2019
Enhancing stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells with crosslinkable silane-functionalized and doped fullerene text January 2016
Inorganic based hole transport materials for perovskite solar cells journal March 2018
Cost effective perovskite solar cells with a high efficiency and open-circuit voltage based on a perovskite-friendly carbon electrode journal January 2018
Air-processed mixed-cation Cs 0.15 FA 0.85 PbI 3 planar perovskite solar cells derived from a PbI 2 –CsI–FAI intermediate complex journal January 2018
Conjugated Small Molecule for Efficient Hole Transport in High-Performance p-i-n Type Perovskite Solar Cells journalarticle January 2017
High-Performance Simple-Structured Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells Achieved by Precursor Optimization journal September 2017
Excess charge-carrier induced instability of hybrid perovskites text January 2018