Room-temperature multiple ligands-tailored SnO2 quantum dots endow in situ dual-interface binding for upscaling efficient perovskite photovoltaics with high VOC

The benchmark tin oxide (SnO2) electron transporting layers (ETLs) have enabled remarkable progress in planar perovskite solar cell (PSCs). However, the energy loss is still a challenge due to the lack of hidden interface control. We report a novel ligand-tailored ultrafine SnO2 quantum dots (QDs) via a facile rapid room temperature synthesis. Importantly, the ligand-tailored SnO2 QDs ETL with multi-functional terminal groups in situ refines the buried interfaces with both the perovskite and transparent electrode via enhanced interface binding and perovskite passivation. These novel ETLs induce synergistic effects of physical and chemical interfacial modulation and preferred perovskite crystallization-directing, delivering reduced interface defects, suppressed non-radiative recombination and elongated charge carrier lifetime. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.02% (0.04 cm(2)) and 21.6% (0.98 cm(2), V-OC loss: 0.336V) have been achieved for the blade-coated PSCs (1.54 eV E-g) with our new ETLs, representing a record for SnO2 based blade-coated PSCs. Moreover, a substantially enhanced PCE (V-OC) from 20.4% (1.15 V) to 22.8% (1.24 V, 90 mV higher V-OC, 0.04 cm(2) device) in the blade-coated 1.61 eV PSCs system, via replacing the benchmark commercial colloidal SnO2 with our new ETLs.

Automated summary

Introduction of novel tin oxide quantum dots as electron transporting layers in planar perovskite solar cells has led to improved interface control and prolonged charge carrier lifetime, resulting in significantly enhanced power conversion efficiency.