Tetrabutylammonium Bromide Functionalized Ti3C2Tx MXene as Versatile Cathode Buffer Layer for Efficient and Stable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

2D Ti3C2Tx MXene, possessing facile preparation, high electrical conductivity, flexibility, and solution processability, shows good application potential for enhancing device performance of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). In this study, tetrabutylammonium bromide functionalized Ti3C2Tx (TBAB-Ti3C2Tx) is developed as cathode buffer layer (CBL) to regulate the PCBM/Ag cathode interfacial property for the first time. By virtue of the charge transfer from TBAB to Ti3C2Tx demonstrated by electron paramagnetic resonance and density functional theory, the TBAB-Ti3C2Tx CBL with high electrical conductivity exhibits significantly reduced work function of 3.9 eV, which enables optimization of energy level alignment and enhancement of charge extraction. Moreover, the TBAB-Ti3C2Tx CBL can effectively inhibit the migration of iodine ions from perovskite layer to Ag cathode, which synergistically suppresses defect states and reduce charge recombination. Consequently, utilizing MAPbI(3) perovskite without post-treatment, the TBAB-Ti3C2Tx based device exhibits a dramatically improved power conversion efficiency of 21.65% with significantly improved operational stability, which is one of the best efficiencies reported for the devices based on MAPbI(3)/PCBM with different CBLs. These results indicate that TBAB-Ti3C2Tx shall be a promising CBL for high-performance inverted PVSCs and inspire the further applications of quaternary ammonium functionalized MXenes in PVSCs.

Automated summary

In this study, a tetrabutylammonium bromide functionalized MXene material is developed as a cathode buffer layer for perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). The functionalized MXene layer exhibits high electrical conductivity and reduced work function, leading to improved energy level alignment and enhanced charge extraction. Additionally, it effectively inhibits the migration of iodine ions and reduces charge recombination. As a result, the PVSC device with the functionalized MXene layer achieves a significantly improved power conversion efficiency of 21.65% and enhanced operational stability.