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Title: Remnant PbI 2 , an unforeseen necessity in high-efficiency hybrid perovskite-based solar cells?

Abstract

Perovskite-containing solar cells were fabricated in a two-step procedure in which PbI2 is deposited via spin-coating and subsequently converted to the CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite by dipping in a solution of CH3NH3I. By varying the dipping time from 5 s to 2 h, we observe that the device performance shows an unexpectedly remarkable trend. At dipping times below 15 min the current density and voltage of the device are enhanced from 10.1 mA/cm2 and 933 mV (5 s) to 15.1 mA/cm2 and 1036 mV (15 min). However, upon further conversion, the current density decreases to 9.7 mA/cm2 and 846 mV after 2 h. Based on X-ray diffraction data, we determined that remnant PbI2 is always present in these devices. Work function and dark current measurements showed that the remnant PbI2 has a beneficial effect and acts as a blocking layer between the TiO2 semiconductor and the perovskite itself reducing the probability of back electron transfer (charge recombination). Furthermore, we find that increased dipping time leads to an increase in the size of perovskite crystals at the perovskite-hole-transporting material interface. Overall, approximately 15 min dipping time (~2% unconverted PbI2) is necessary for achieving optimal device efficiency.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research Center (ANSER)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1179634
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1386314
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0001059
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
APL Materials
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: APL Materials Journal Volume: 2 Journal Issue: 9; Journal ID: ISSN 2166-532X
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; catalysis (homogeneous); catalysis (heterogeneous); solar (photovoltaic); solar (fuels); photosynthesis (natural and artificial); bio-inspired; hydrogen and fuel cells; electrodes - solar; defects; charge transport; spin dynamics; membrane; materials and chemistry by design; optics; synthesis (novel materials); synthesis (self-assembly)

Citation Formats

Cao, Duyen H., Stoumpos, Constantinos C., Malliakas, Christos D., Katz, Michael J., Farha, Omar K., Hupp, Joseph T., and Kanatzidis, Mercouri G. Remnant PbI 2 , an unforeseen necessity in high-efficiency hybrid perovskite-based solar cells?. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4895038.
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Cao, Duyen H., Stoumpos, Constantinos C., Malliakas, Christos D., Katz, Michael J., Farha, Omar K., Hupp, Joseph T., & Kanatzidis, Mercouri G. Remnant PbI 2 , an unforeseen necessity in high-efficiency hybrid perovskite-based solar cells?. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4895038
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Cao, Duyen H., Stoumpos, Constantinos C., Malliakas, Christos D., Katz, Michael J., Farha, Omar K., Hupp, Joseph T., and Kanatzidis, Mercouri G. Mon . "Remnant PbI 2 , an unforeseen necessity in high-efficiency hybrid perovskite-based solar cells?". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4895038.
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@article{osti_1179634,
title = {Remnant PbI 2 , an unforeseen necessity in high-efficiency hybrid perovskite-based solar cells?},
author = {Cao, Duyen H. and Stoumpos, Constantinos C. and Malliakas, Christos D. and Katz, Michael J. and Farha, Omar K. and Hupp, Joseph T. and Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.},
abstractNote = {Perovskite-containing solar cells were fabricated in a two-step procedure in which PbI2 is deposited via spin-coating and subsequently converted to the CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite by dipping in a solution of CH3NH3I. By varying the dipping time from 5 s to 2 h, we observe that the device performance shows an unexpectedly remarkable trend. At dipping times below 15 min the current density and voltage of the device are enhanced from 10.1 mA/cm2 and 933 mV (5 s) to 15.1 mA/cm2 and 1036 mV (15 min). However, upon further conversion, the current density decreases to 9.7 mA/cm2 and 846 mV after 2 h. Based on X-ray diffraction data, we determined that remnant PbI2 is always present in these devices. Work function and dark current measurements showed that the remnant PbI2 has a beneficial effect and acts as a blocking layer between the TiO2 semiconductor and the perovskite itself reducing the probability of back electron transfer (charge recombination). Furthermore, we find that increased dipping time leads to an increase in the size of perovskite crystals at the perovskite-hole-transporting material interface. Overall, approximately 15 min dipping time (~2% unconverted PbI2) is necessary for achieving optimal device efficiency.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4895038},
journal = {APL Materials},
number = 9,
volume = 2,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4895038
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