21.41%-Efficiency CsPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells Enabled by an Effective Redox Strategy with 4-Fluorobenzothiohydrazide in Precursor Solution

To simultaneously stabilize cesium lead triiodide (CsPbI3) precursor solution and passivate the defects in CsPbI3 film is greatly significant for achieving highly stable and efficient CsPbI3 perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, an effective redox 4-fluorobenzothiohydrazide (FBTH) is developed to stabilize the precursor solution and passivate iodine/lead-related defects for high-quality CsPbI3 film. The comprehensive research confirms that 1) a new compound FBTH-I is obtained from an effective redox interaction between FBTH and molecular iodine (I-2) in perovskite precursor solution, which can effectively impede the formation of I-2 molecule and restrain I- migration in perovskite film by forming N-HI bond; 2) FBTH-I can also passivate Pb-related defects via forming SPb interaction. Consequently, the CsPbI3 PSC based on FBTH-treated precursor solution exhibits a fascinating power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.41%, which is one of the highest PCE values among the reported pure CsPbI3 PSCs so far, and an outstanding stability against the harsh conditions, such as thermal annealing and continuous light-illumination.

Automated summary

In this study, an effective redox agent was developed to simultaneously stabilize the cesium lead triiodide precursor solution and passivate defects in the perovskite film. This method achieves highly stable and efficient cesium lead triiodide perovskite solar cells.