Low-Temperature Phase-Transition for Compositional-Pure α-FAPbI3 Solar Cells with Low Residual-Stress and High Crystal-Orientation

Transition of delta-phase formamidinium lead triiodide (delta-FAPbI(3)) to pure alpha-phase FAPbI(3) (alpha-FAPbI(3)) typically requires high processing temperature (150 degrees C), which often results in unavoidable residual stress. Besides, using methylammonium chloride (MACl) as additive in fabrication will cause MA residue in the film, compromising the compositional purity. Here, a stress-released and compositional-pure alpha-FAPbI(3) thin-film is fabricated using 3-chloropropylammonium chloride (Cl-PACl) by two-step annealing. The 2D template of n = 2 can preferentially form in perovskite with the introduction of Cl-PACl at a temperature as low as 80 degrees C. Such a 2D template can guide the free components to form ordered alpha-FAPbI(3) and promote the transition of the formed delta-FAPbI(3) to alpha-FAPbI(3) by reducing the phase transition energy. As a result, the obtained perovskite films via low-temperature phase-transition have a high degree of crystal orientation and reduced residual stress. More importantly, most of the Cl-PACl is volatilized during the subsequent high-temperature annealing process accompanied by the disintegration of the 2D templates. The residual trace of Cl-PA(+) is mainly concentrated at the grain boundary near the perovskite surface layer, stabilizing alpha-FAPbI(3) and passivating defects. Perovskite solar cell based on pure alpha-FAPbI(3) achieves a power conversion efficiency of 23.03% with excellent phase stability and photo-stability.

Automated summary

A stress-released and compositional-pure α-FAPbI(3) thin-film is fabricated using 3-chloropropylammonium chloride (Cl-PACl) by two-step annealing. The introduction of Cl-PACl at a low temperature can form a 2D template, which promotes the transition from δ-FAPbI(3) to α-FAPbI(3) and leads to highly crystal-oriented and reduced residual stress perovskite films. Most of the Cl-PACl volatilizes during high-temperature annealing, while the residual Cl-PA(+) stabilizes α-FAPbI(3) and passivates defects. The perovskite solar cell based on pure α-FAPbI(3) achieves high power conversion efficiency, phase stability, and photo-stability.