Polymethyl Methacrylate as an Interlayer Between the Halide Perovskite and Copper Phthalocyanine Layers for Stable and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells

The use of inexpensive, highly efficient, and long-term stable hole-transporting layers (HTLs) while facilitating the fabrication process has become a critical issue for PSC commercialization. Among organic HTLs, copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) has been increasingly studied owing to its low cost and excellent thermal stability. Nevertheless, CuPc has a low energy level in the conduction band, resulting in low efficiency due to a poor electron barrier. In this study, an efficient and stable PSC is fabricated by combining CuPc with an ultrathin poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) interlayer, which is deposited on a [(FAPbI(3))(0.95)(MAPbBr(3))(0.05)] absorption layer (here, FAPbI(3) and MAPbBr(3) denote formamidinium lead triiodide and methylammonium lead tribromide, respectively). PMMA in perovskite has been found to reduce perovskite surface defects and series resistance as well as the electronic barrier to HTL. The optimum concentration of PMMA allows for the fabrication of the PSC with a PCE of 21.3%, which is the highest PCE for PSCs featuring metal phthalocyanines as the HTL reported to date. The stability of the encapsulated PSC exceeds 80% after 760 h at 85 degrees C under 85% RH conditions.

Automated summary

The study focused on the use of inexpensive, efficient, and stable hole-transporting layers (HTLs) for commercialization of perovskite solar cells. By combining CuPc with PMMA interlayer, the PSC showed enhanced efficiency and stability, with PMMA reducing surface defects and electronic barriers. The PSC achieved a PCE of 21.3% and over 80% stability after 760 hours under harsh conditions.