Photo-stable perovskite solar cells with reduced interfacial recombination losses using a CeOx interlayer

Despite demonstrating remarkable power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have not yet achieved their full potential. In particular, the interfaces between the perovskite and charge transport layers account for the vast majority of the recombination losses. Interfacial contact and band alignment between the low-temperature-processed TiO2 electron transport layer (ETL) and the perovskite are essential to minimize nonradiative recombination losses. In this study, a CeOx interlayer is employed to modify the perovskite/TiO2 interface, and the charge transport properties of the devices are investigated. The bilayer-structured TiO2/CeOx ETL leads to the modification of the interface energetics, resulting in improved electron extraction and reduced nonradiative recombination in the PSCs. Devices based on TiO2/CeOx ETL exhibit a high open-circuit voltage (V-oc) of 1.13 V and an enhanced PCE of more than 20% as compared with V-oc of 1.08 V and a PCE of approximately 18% for TiO2-based devices. Moreover, PSCs based on TiO2/CeOx ETL maintain over 88% of their initial PCEs after light illumination for 300 min, whereas PSCs based on TiO2 ETL almost failed. This study provides an efficient strategy to enhance the PCE and stability of PSCs based on a low-temperature-processed TiO2 ETL.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the use of a CeOx interlayer to modify the perovskite/TiO2 interface, resulting in improved electron extraction and reduced nonradiative recombination in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The bilayer-structured TiO2/CeOx electron transport layer (ETL) leads to enhanced open-circuit voltage and power conversion efficiency, as well as improved stability of PSCs.