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Title: Transition metal-substituted lead halide perovskite absorbers

Journal Article · · Journal of Materials Chemistry. A
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ta09745f · OSTI ID:1352552

Here, lead halide perovskites have proven to be a versatile class of visible light absorbers that allow rapid access to the long minority carrier lifetimes and diffusion lengths desirable for traditional single-junction photovoltaics. We explore the extent to which the attractive features of these semiconductors may be extended to include an intermediate density of states for future application in multi-level solar energy conversion systems capable of exceeding the Shockley–Queisser limit. We computationally and experimentally explore the substitution of transition metals on the Pb site of MAPbX3 (MA = methylammonium, X = Br or Cl) to achieve a tunable density of states within the parent gap. Computational screening identified both Fe- and Co-substituted MAPbBr3 as promising absorbers with a mid-gap density of states, and the later films were synthesized via conventional solution-based processing techniques. First-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations support the existence of mid-gap states upon Co incorporation and enhanced sub-gap absorption, which are consistent with UV-visible-NIR absorption spectroscopy. Strikingly, steady state and time-resolved PL studies reveal no sign of self-quenching for Co-substitution up to 25%, which suggest this class of materials to be a worthy candidate for future application in intermediate band photovoltaics.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22); Scientific User Facilities Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1352552
Journal Information:
Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Chemistry. A Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 5; ISSN JMCAET; ISSN 2050-7488
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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