Efficient Wide-Bandgap Mixed-Cation and Mixed-Halide Perovskite Solar Cells by Vacuum Deposition

Vacuum deposition methods are increasingly applied to the preparation of perovskite films and devices, in view of the possibility to prepare multilayer structures at low temperature. Vacuum-deposited, wide-bandgap solar cells based on mixed-cation and mixed-anion perovskites have been scarcely reported, due to the challenges associated with the multiple-source processing of perovskite thin films. In this work, we describe a four-source vacuum deposition process to prepare wide-bandgap perovskites of the type FA(1-n)Cs(n)Pb-(I1-xBrx)(3) with a tunable bandgap and controlled morphology, using FAI, CsI, PbI2, and PbBr2 as the precursors. The simultaneous sublimation of PbI2 and PbBr2 allows the relative Br/Cs content to be decoupled and controlled, resulting in homogeneous perovskite films with a bandgap in the 1.7-1.8 eV range and no detectable halide segregation. Solar cells based on 1.75 eV bandgap perovskites show efficiency up to 16.8% and promising stability, maintaining 90% of the initial efficiency after 2 weeks of operation.

Automated summary

The vacuum deposition method is increasingly used for preparing perovskite films and devices with multilayer structures at low temperatures. Wide-bandgap perovskites with tunable bandgaps can be prepared using a four-source vacuum deposition process, leading to high efficiency solar cells with promising stability. Solar cells based on a 1.75 eV bandgap perovskite show efficiency up to 16.8% and maintain 90% of the initial efficiency after 2 weeks of operation.