Tuning Hole Transport Layer Using Urea for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

Interface engineering is critical to the development of highly efficient perovskite solar cells. Here, urea treatment of hole transport layer (e.g., poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)) is reported to effectively tune its morphology, conductivity, and work function for improving the efficiency and stability of inverted MAPbI(3) perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This treatment has significantly increased MAPbI(3) photovoltaic performance to 18.8% for the urea treated PEDOT:PSS PSCs from 14.4% for pristine PEDOT:PSS devices. The use of urea controls phase separation between PEDOT and PSS segments, leading to the formation of a unique fiber-shaped PEDOT:PSS film morphology with well-organized charge transport pathways for improved conductivity from 0.2 S cm(-1) for pristine PEDOT:PSS to 12.75 S cm(-1) for 5 wt% urea treated PEDOT:PSS. The urea-treatment also addresses a general challenge associated with the acidic nature of PEDOT:PSS, leading to a much improved ambient stability of PSCs. In addition, the device hysteresis is significantly minimized by optimizing the urea content in the treatment.