Trace Water in Lead Iodide Affecting Perovskite Crystal Nucleation Limits the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells

Renjun Guo, Qiu Xiong, Aleksander Ulatowski, Saisai Li, Zijin Ding, Tianxiao Xiao, Suzhe Liang, Julian E. Heger, Tianfu Guan, Xinyu Jiang, Kun Sun, Lennart K. Reb, Manuel A. Reus, Andrei Chumakov, Matthias Schwartzkopf, Minjian Yuan, Yi Hou, Stephan V. Roth, Laura M. Herz, Peng GaoPeter Müller-Buschbaum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

The experimental replicability of highly efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is a persistent challenge faced by laboratories worldwide. Although trace impurities in raw materials can impact the experimental reproducibility of high-performance PSCs, the in situ study of how trace impurities affect perovskite film growth is never investigated. Here, light is shed on the impact of inevitable water contamination in lead iodide (PbI2) on the replicability of device performance, mainly depending on the synthesis methods of PbI2. Through synchrotron-based structure characterization, it is uncovered that even slight additions of water to PbI2 accelerate the crystallization process in the perovskite layer during annealing. However, this accelerated crystallization also results in an imbalance of charge-carrier mobilities, leading to a degradation in device performance and reduced longevity of the solar cells. It is also found that anhydrous PbI2 promotes a homogenous nucleation process and improves perovskite film growth. Finally, the PSCs achieve a remarkable certified power conversion efficiency of 24.3%. This breakthrough demonstrates the significance of understanding and precisely managing the water content in PbI2 to ensure the experimental replicability of high-efficiency PSCs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2310237
JournalAdvanced Materials
Volume36
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Feb 2024

Keywords

  • device performance
  • perovskite solar cells
  • synchrotron-based in situ grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering method
  • trace amount contamination

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