Transformation of the Excited State and Photovoltaic Efficiency of CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite upon Controlled Exposure to Humidified Air

Humidity has been an important factor, in both negative and positive ways, in the development of perovskite solar cells and will prove critical in the push to commercialize this exciting new photovoltaic technology. The interaction between CH3NH3PbI3 and H2O vapor is investigated by characterizing the ground-state and excited-state optical absorption properties and probing morphology and crystal structure. These undertakings reveal that H2O exposure does not simply cause CH3NH3PbI3 to revert to PbI2. It is shown that, in the dark, H2O is able to complex with the perovskite, forming a hydrate product similar to (CH3NH3)4PbI(6)center dot 2H(2)O. This causes a decrease in absorption across the visible region of the spectrum and a distinct change in the crystal structure of the material. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic measurements show the effect that humidity has on the ultrafast excited state dynamics of CH3NH3PbI3. More importantly, the deleterious effects of humidity on complete solar cells, specifically on photovoltaic efficiency and stability, are explored in the light of these spectroscopic understandings.