Interface Engineering by Employing Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) as the Only Scaffold in the Architecture of Perovskite Solar Cells

In this study, we employed zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) as the interlayer between the compact TiO2 and perovskite layers. As a result, enhanced perovskite grain crystallinity, larger grains, and considerably improved photovoltaic performance were achieved in the fabricated perovskite solar cells (PSC). It was demonstrated that the ZIF-8 film includes all characteristics suitable for being applied as scaffold in the PSCs with the advantage of easier synthesis process in room temperature in comparison to the mesoporous TiO2 counterpart. Moreover, we replaced the thermal annealing process commonly applied on the perovskite layers with room-temperature ultrasonic vibration post-treatment of wet perovskite films.