Lewis-Adduct Mediated Grain-Boundary Functionalization for Efficient Ideal-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells with Superior Stability

State-of-the-art perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have bandgaps that are invariably larger than 1.45 eV, which limits their theoretically attainable power conversion efficiency. The emergent mixed-(Pb, Sn) perovskites with bandgaps of 1.2-1.3 eV are ideal for single-junction solar cells according to the Shockley-Queisser limit, and they have the potential to deliver higher efficiency. Nevertheless, the high chemical activity of Sn(II) in these perovskites makes it extremely challenging to control their physical properties and chemical stability, thereby leading to PSCs with relatively low PCE and stability. In this work, the authors employ the Lewis-adduct SnF(2)3FACl additive in the solution-processing of ideal-bandgap halide perovskites (IBHPs), and prepare uniform large-grain perovskite thin films containing continuously functionalized grain boundaries with the stable SnF2 phase. Such Sn(II)-rich grain-boundary networks significantly enhance the physical properties and chemical stability of the IBHP thin films. Based on this approach, PSCs with an ideal bandgap of 1.3 eV are fabricated with a promising efficiency of 15.8%, as well as enhanced stability. The concept of Lewis-adduct-mediated grain-boundary functionalization in IBHPs presented here points to a new chemical route for approaching the Shockley-Queisser limit in future stable PSCs.