Improved stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells with submicron flexible barrier films deposited in air

Journal Article · 27 October 2017 · Journal of Materials Chemistry. A

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ta09178h · OSTI ID:1423463

Rolston, Nicholas ^[1]; Printz, Adam D. ^[2]; Hilt, Florian ^[2]; Hovish, Michael Q. ^[2]; Brüning, Karsten ^[3]; Tassone, Christopher J. ^[3]; Dauskardt, Reinhold H. ^[2]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept. of Applied Physics
2. Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
3. SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)

Here in this paper, we report on submicron organosilicate barrier films produced rapidly in air by a scalable spray plasma process that improves both the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells. The plasma is at sufficiently low temperature to prevent damage to the underlying layers. Oxidizing species and heat from the plasma improve device performance by enhancing both interfacial contact and the conductivity of the hole transporting layer. The thickness of the barrier films is tunable and transparent over the entire visible spectrum. The morphology and density of the barrier are shown to improve with the addition of a fluorine-based precursor. Devices with submicron coatings exhibited significant improvements in stability, maintaining 92% of their initial power conversion efficiencies after more than 3000 h in dry heat (85 °C, 25% RH) while also being resistant to degradation under simulated operational conditions of continuous exposure to light, heat, and moisture. X-ray diffraction measurements performed while heating showed the barrier film dramatically slows the formation of PbI₂. The barrier films also are compatible with flexible devices, exhibiting no signs of cracking or delamination after 10000 bending cycles on a 127 μm substrate with a bending radius of 1 cm.

• Research Organization: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: DGE-1656518; EECS-1542152; AC02-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 1423463
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1491403
• Journal Information: Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Vol. 5, Issue 44; ISSN 2050-7488
• Publisher: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English