Tailoring Molecular-Scale Contact at the Perovskite/Polymeric Hole-Transporting Material Interface for Efficient Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have delivered a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of more than 25% and incorporating polymers as hole-transporting layers (HTLs) can further enhance the stability of devices toward the goal of commercialization. Among the various polymeric hole-transporting materials, poly(triaryl amine) (PTAA) is one of the promising HTL candidates with good stability; however, the hydrophobicity of PTAA causes problematic interfacial contact with the perovskite, limiting the device performance. Using molecular side-chain engineering, a uniform 2D perovskite interlayer with conjugated ligands, between 3D perovskites and PTAA is successfully constructed. Further, employing conjugated ligands as cohesive elements, perovskite/PTAA interfacial adhesion is significantly improved. As a result, the thin and lateral extended 2D/3D heterostructure enables as-fabricated PTAA-based PSCs to achieve a PCE of 23.7%, improved from the 18% of reference devices. Owing to the increased ion-migration energy barrier and conformal 2D coating, unencapsulated devices with the new ligands exhibit both superior thermal stability under 60 degrees C heating and moisture stability in ambient conditions.

Automated summary

Polymer as a hole-transporting layer can enhance the stability of perovskite solar cells. By molecular side-chain engineering, a uniform 2D perovskite interlayer with conjugated ligands is successfully constructed, improving the interfacial adhesion. The PTAA-based solar cells with the thin and lateral extended 2D/3D heterostructure achieved a PCE of 23.7%, higher than the reference devices' 18%. Devices with the new ligands also exhibited superior thermal and moisture stability.