Defect passivation in CH3NH3PbI3 films using alkali metal fluoride additives for highly efficient perovskite solar cells

Solution-processed organic/inorganic hybrid halide perovskites are a class of very promising photovoltaic materials because of their extraordinary optoelectronic properties. However, numerous intrinsic defects within perovskite films limit the performance enhancement of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, we introduce three different alkali metal fluoride additives into the perovskite precursor to modulate the defect behaviors. The addition of alkali metal fluorides, especially potassium fluoride (KF), significantly passivates grain boundaries and point defects within bulk perovskite films, contributing to increased carrier lifetime and reduced defect state density. By optimizing the concentration of additives, the PSC device with 1% KF added has realized a significantly enhanced power conversion efficiency of 20.11%, and ignorable hysteresis.

Automated summary

By adding alkali metal fluorides, especially potassium fluoride, to the perovskite precursor, the defect behaviors of perovskite films were successfully modulated, leading to improved performance of solar cells with significantly enhanced power conversion efficiency.