Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells with a High Open-Circuit Voltage Over 1.2 V Achieved by a Dual-Side Passivation Layer

Suppressing nonradiative recombination at the interface between the organometal halide perovskite (PVK) and the charge-transport layer (CTL) is crucial for improving the efficiency and stability of PVK-based solar cells (PSCs). Here, a new bathocuproine (BCP)-based nonconjugated polyelectrolyte (poly-BCP) is synthesized and this is introduced as a dual-side passivation layer between the tin oxide (SnO2) CTL and the PVK absorber. Poly-BCP significantly suppresses both bulk and interfacial nonradiative recombination by passivating oxygen-vacancy defects from the SnO2 side and simultaneously scavenges ionic defects from the other (PVK) side. Therefore, PSCs with poly-BCP exhibits a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.4% and a high open-circuit voltage of 1.21 V with a reduced voltage loss (PVK bandgap of 1.56 eV). The non-encapsulated PSCs also show excellent long-term stability by retaining 93% of the initial PCE after 700 h under continuous 1-sun irradiation in nitrogen atmosphere conditions.

Automated summary

In this study, a new nonconjugated polyelectrolyte (poly-BCP) was synthesized and introduced as a passivation layer between tin oxide and organometal halide perovskite. It effectively suppressed nonradiative recombination, resulting in improved efficiency and stability of solar cells.