Prof Laura Herz FRS

Abstract:

The experimental replicability of highly efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is a persistent challenge faced by laboratories worldwide. Although trace impurities in raw materials can impact the experimental reproducibility of high-performance PSCs, the in situ study of how trace impurities affect perovskite film growth is never investigated. Here, light is shed on the impact of inevitable water contamination in lead iodide (PbI₂ ) on the replicability of device performance, mainly depending on the synthesis methods of PbI₂ . Through synchrotron-based structure characterization, it is uncovered that even slight additions of water to PbI₂ accelerate the crystallization process in the perovskite layer during annealing. However, this accelerated crystallization also results in an imbalance of charge-carrier mobilities, leading to a degradation in device performance and reduced longevity of the solar cells. It is also found that anhydrous PbI₂ promotes a homogenous nucleation process and improves perovskite film growth. Finally, the PSCs achieve a remarkable certified power conversion efficiency of 24.3%. This breakthrough demonstrates the significance of understanding and precisely managing the water content in PbI₂ to ensure the experimental replicability of high-efficiency PSCs.

Abstract:

Deep-subcycle shifts of terahertz near-field waveforms reveal the interplay of ultrafast carrier dynamics and nano-morphology in metal halide perovskites. A surprising robustness of out-of-plane diffusion against structural and chemical variations is found on the nanoscale.