Dr Junke Wang

Abstract:

All-perovskite tandem photovoltaics are a potentially cost-effective technology to power chemical fuel production, such as green hydrogen. However, their application is limited by deficits in open-circuit voltage and, more challengingly, poor operational stability of the photovoltaic cell. Here we report a laboratory-scale solar-assisted water-splitting system using an electrochemical flow cell and an all-perovskite tandem solar cell. We begin by treating the perovskite surface with a propane-1,3-diammonium iodide solution that reduces interface non-radiative recombination losses and achieves an open-circuit voltage above 90% of the detailed-balance limit for single-junction solar cells between the bandgap of 1.6-1.8 eV. Specifically, a high open-circuit voltage of 1.35 V and maximum power conversion efficiency of 19.9% are achieved at a 1.77 eV bandgap. This enables monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells with a 26.0% power conversion efficiency at 1 cm2 area and a pioneering photovoltaic-electrochemical system with a maximum solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 17.8%. The system retains over 60% of its peak performance after operating for more than 180 h. We find that the performance loss is mainly due to the degradation of the photovoltaic component. We observe severe charge collection losses in the narrow-bandgap sub-cell that can be attributed to the interface degradation between the narrow-bandgap perovskite and the hole-transporting layer. Our study suggests that developing chemically stable absorbers and contact layers is critical for the applications of all-perovskite tandem photovoltaics.

Abstract:

January 4, 2025

Abstract:

Inverted (pin) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) afford improved operating stability in comparison to their nip counterparts but have lagged in power conversion efficiency (PCE). The energetic losses responsible for this PCE deficit in pin PSCs occur primarily at the interfaces between the perovskite and the charge-transport layers. Additive and surface treatments that use passivating ligands usually bind to a single active binding site: This dense packing of electrically resistive passivants perpendicular to the surface may limit the fill factor in pin PSCs. We identified ligands that bind two neighboring lead(II) ion (Pb2+) defect sites in a planar ligand orientation on the perovskite. We fabricated pin PSCs and report a certified quasi–steady state PCE of 26.15 and 24.74% for 0.05– and 1.04–square centimeter illuminated areas, respectively. The devices retain 95% of their initial PCE after 1200 hours of continuous 1 sun maximum power point operation at 65°C.