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

Abstract

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.

Authors:
 [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
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); National Science Foundation (NSF); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
OSTI Identifier:
1465793
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1334828
Grant/Contract Number:  
EE0004946
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Applied Physics Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 109; Journal Issue: 23; Journal ID: ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
25 ENERGY STORAGE; 75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY

Citation Formats

Abdelmageed, Ghada, Jewell, Leila, Hellier, Kaitlin, Seymour, Lydia, Luo, Binbin, Bridges, Frank, Zhang, Jin Z., and Carter, Sue. Mechanisms for light induced degradation in MAPbI3 perovskite thin films and solar cells. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4967840.
Abdelmageed, Ghada, Jewell, Leila, Hellier, Kaitlin, Seymour, Lydia, Luo, Binbin, Bridges, Frank, Zhang, Jin Z., & Carter, Sue. Mechanisms for light induced degradation in MAPbI3 perovskite thin films and solar cells. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4967840
Abdelmageed, Ghada, Jewell, Leila, Hellier, Kaitlin, Seymour, Lydia, Luo, Binbin, Bridges, Frank, Zhang, Jin Z., and Carter, Sue. 2016. "Mechanisms for light induced degradation in MAPbI3 perovskite thin films and solar cells". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4967840. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1465793.
@article{osti_1465793,
title = {Mechanisms for light induced degradation in MAPbI3 perovskite thin films and solar cells},
author = {Abdelmageed, Ghada and Jewell, Leila and Hellier, Kaitlin and Seymour, Lydia and Luo, Binbin and Bridges, Frank and Zhang, Jin Z. and Carter, Sue},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4967840},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1465793}, journal = {Applied Physics Letters},
issn = {0003-6951},
number = 23,
volume = 109,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Dec 05 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Mon Dec 05 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}

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Works referenced in this record:

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Unraveling the Light-Induced Degradation Mechanisms of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 Perovskite Films
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Role of Microstructure in Oxygen Induced Photodegradation of Methylammonium Lead Triiodide Perovskite Films
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Photon-generated carriers excite superoxide species inducing long-term photoluminescence enhancement of MAPbI 3 perovskite single crystals
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Ultrahigh photo-stable all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals and their robust random lasing
journal, January 2020


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journal, December 2018


Understanding Hydrogen Bonding Interactions in Crosslinked Methylammonium Lead Iodide Crystals: Towards Reducing Moisture and Light Degradation Pathways
journal, September 2019


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