Constructing molecular bridge for high-efficiency and stable perovskite solar cells based on P3HT

Dongdong Xu; Zhiming Gong; Yue Jiang; Yancong Feng; Zhen Wang; Xingsen Gao; Xubing Lu; Guofu Zhou; Jun-Ming Liu; Jinwei Gao

doi:10.1038/s41467-022-34768-7

Constructing molecular bridge for high-efficiency and stable perovskite solar cells based on P3HT

Nat Commun. 2022 Nov 17;13(1):7020. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-34768-7.

Authors

Dongdong Xu¹, Zhiming Gong¹, Yue Jiang², Yancong Feng³, Zhen Wang¹, Xingsen Gao¹, Xubing Lu¹, Guofu Zhou⁴, Jun-Ming Liu⁵, Jinwei Gao⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Advanced Materials and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
² Institute for Advanced Materials and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China. yuejiang@m.scnu.edu.cn.
³ Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China. fengyancong@m.scnu.edu.cn.
⁴ Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
⁵ Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
⁶ Institute for Advanced Materials and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China. gaojinwei@m.scnu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is one of the most attractive hole transport materials (HTMs) for the pursuit of stable, low-cost, and high-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the poor contact and the severe recombination at P3HT/perovskite interface lead to a low power conversion efficiency (PCE). Thus, we construct a molecular bridge, 2-((7-(4-(bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)phenyl)-10-(2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl)-10H-phenoxazin-3-yl)methylene)malononitrile (MDN), whose malononitrile group can anchor the perovskite surface while the triphenylamine group can form π-π stacking with P3HT, to form a charge transport channel. In addition, MDN is also found effectively passivate the defects and reduce the recombination to a large extent. Finally, a PCE of 22.87% has been achieved with MDN-doped P3HT (M-P3HT) as HTM, much higher than the efficiency of PSCs with pristine P3HT. Furthermore, MDN gives the un-encapsulated device enhanced long-term stability that 92% of its initial efficiency maintain even after two months of aging at 75% relative humidity (RH) follow by one month of aging at 85% RH in the atmosphere, and the PCE does not change after operating at the maximum power point (MPP) under 1 sun illumination (~45 ^oC in N₂) over 500 hours.