A universal multi-additive strategy to enhance efficiency and stability in inverted perovskite solar cells

Perovskite solar technology has become a trend topic in the last decade, reaching promising efficiencies up to 25.7 %. Researchers mainly focused on obtaining high performance rather than caring for stability under accelerated stress conditions, such as thermal and light soaking tests. For this reason, we studied a standard triple cation perovskite (-1.58 eV) and wider bandgap perovskite (-1.63 eV) with the scope of finding a common strategy to build a robust device stable over time independently of the perovskite used. We use a combination of additives inside the perovskite ink: ionic liquid 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIM-BF4), alkylamine ligands oleylamine (OAm) and benzylhydrazine hydrochloride (BHC). Our work reveals that the combination of these additives helps to improve the efficiency and stability of the entire device, reaching a power conversion efficiency up to 21.3 % and over 20 % for both types of perovskite and stability beyond 1000 h under continuous light soaking. The universal applicability of this method was further applied to a robust methylammonium free perovskite, leading to an impressive stability both under light soaking and under 85 degrees C, showing T90 > 1500 h and T80 > 8658 h, respectively: the solar cells modified with the additive mixture retained 95 % of their efficiency after 1000 h under light soaking at 45 degrees C and 100 % of their efficiency after 1500 h of stress at 85 degrees C.

Automated summary

Perovskite solar technology has gained attention in the last decade with efficiencies reaching up to 25.7%. However, the focus has been on performance rather than stability under stress conditions. In this study, researchers explored a universal strategy to enhance stability by using a combination of additives in the perovskite ink. The results showed significant improvements in efficiency and stability, with the modified solar cells retaining 95% efficiency after 1000 hours of light soaking and 100% efficiency after 1500 hours of stress.