Fundamental Flaw in the Current Construction of the TiO2 Electron Transport Layer of Perovskite Solar Cells and Its EliminationClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!
- Yan YanYan YanBeijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaThe Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Hamburg 22761, GermanyMore by Yan Yan
- Cheng LiuCheng LiuState Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, ChinaMore by Cheng Liu
- Yi YangYi YangState Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, ChinaMore by Yi Yang
- Guoxiang HuGuoxiang HuDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College of the City University of New York, Queens, New York 11367, United StatesMore by Guoxiang Hu
- Vandana TiwariVandana TiwariThe Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Hamburg 22761, GermanyDepartment of Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 6, Hamburg 20146, GermanyMore by Vandana Tiwari
- De-en JiangDe-en JiangDepartment of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United StatesMore by De-en Jiang
- Wei PengWei PengBeijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaMore by Wei Peng
- Ajay JhaAjay JhaThe Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Hamburg 22761, GermanyThe Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, U.K.Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, U.K.More by Ajay Jha
- Hong-Guang DuanHong-Guang DuanThe Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Hamburg 22761, GermanyInstitut für Theoretische Physik, Universitat Hamburg, Jungiusstraße 9, Hamburg 20355, GermanyThe Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 Street George Street, Toronto M1C 1A4, CanadaMore by Hong-Guang Duan
- Friedjof TellkampFriedjof TellkampThe Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Hamburg 22761, GermanyMore by Friedjof Tellkamp
- Yong DingYong DingState Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, ChinaMore by Yong Ding
- Weidong ShiWeidong ShiSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaMore by Weidong Shi
- Shouqi YuanShouqi YuanSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaMore by Shouqi Yuan
- Dwayne MillerDwayne MillerThe Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Hamburg 22761, GermanyThe Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 Street George Street, Toronto M1C 1A4, CanadaMore by Dwayne Miller
- Wanhong Ma*Wanhong Ma*Email: [email protected]Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaMore by Wanhong Ma
- Jincai ZhaoJincai ZhaoBeijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaMore by Jincai Zhao
Abstract

The top-performing perovskite solar cells (efficiency > 20%) generally rely on the use of a nanocrystal TiO2 electron transport layer (ETL). However, the efficacies and stability of the current stereotypically prepared TiO2 ETLs employing commercially available TiO2 nanocrystal paste are far from their maximum values. As revealed herein, the long-hidden reason for this discrepancy is that acidic protons (∼0.11 wt %) always remain in TiO2 ETLs after high-temperature sintering due to the decomposition of the organic proton solvent (mostly alcohol). These protons readily lead to the formation of Ti–H species upon light irradiation, which act to block the electron transfer at the perovskite/TiO2 interface. Affront this challenge, we introduced a simple deprotonation protocol by adding a small amount of strong proton acceptors (sodium ethoxide or NaOH) into the common TiO2 nanocrystal paste precursor and replicated the high-temperature sintering process, which wiped out nearly all protons in TiO2 ETLs during the sintering process. The use of deprotonated TiO2 ETLs not only promotes the PCE of both MAPbI3-based and FA0.85MA0.15PbI2.55Br0.45-based devices over 20% but also significantly improves the long-term photostability of the target devices upon 1000 h of continuous operation.
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