David McMeekin

Abstract:

The tunable bandgap of metal-halide perovskites has opened up the possibility of tandem solar cells with over 30% efficiency. Iodide-Bromide (I-Br) mixed-halide perovskites are crucial to achieve the optimum bandgap for such tandems. However, when the Br content is increased to widen the bandgap, cells fail to deliver the expected increase in open-circuit voltage (VOC). This loss in VOC has been attributed to photo-induced halide segregation. Here, we combine Fourier Transform Photocurrent Spectroscopy (FTPS) with detailed balance calculations to quantify the voltage loss expected from the halide segregation, providing a means to quantify the VOC losses arising from the formation of low bandgap iodide-rich phases during halide segregation. Our results indicate that, contrary to popular belief, halide segregation is not the dominant VOC loss mechanism in Br-rich wide bandgap cells. Rather, the loss is dominated by the relatively low initial radiative efficiency of the cells, which arises from both imperfections within the absorber layer, and at the perovskite/charge extraction layer heterojunctions. We thus identify that focussing on maximising the initial radiative efficiency of the mixed-halide films and devices is more important than attempting to suppress halide segeregation. Our results suggest that a VOC of up to 1.33 V is within reach for a 1.77 eV bandgap perovskite, even if halide segregation cannot be supressed

Abstract:

© 2019 Multi-junction device architectures can increase the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of photovoltaic (PV) cells beyond the single-junction thermodynamic limit. However, these devices are challenging to produce by solution-based methods, where dissolution of underlying layers is problematic. By employing a highly volatile acetonitrile(CH 3 CN)/methylamine(CH 3 NH 2 ) (ACN/MA) solvent-based perovskite solution, we demonstrate fully solution-processed absorber, transport, and recombination layers for monolithic all-perovskite tandem and triple-junction solar cells. By combining FA 0.83 Cs 0.17 Pb(Br 0.7 I 0.3 ) 3 (1.94 eV) and MAPbI 3 (1.57 eV) junctions, we reach two-terminal tandem PCEs of more than 15% (steady state). We show that a MAPb 0.75 Sn 0.25 I 3 (1.34 eV) narrow band-gap perovskite can be processed via the ACN/MA solvent-based system, demonstrating the first proof-of-concept, monolithic all-perovskite triple-junction solar cell with an open-circuit voltage reaching 2.83 V. Through optical and electronic modeling, we estimate the achievable PCE of a state-of-the-art triple-junction device architecture to be 26.7%. Our work opens new possibilities for large-scale, low-cost, printable perovskite multi-junction solar cells. Silicon-based solar cells are dominating today's solar energy market. However, their efficiencies will soon reach their maximum practical limit. Without any gains in efficiency, price reductions will become increasingly difficult to achieve. Tandem and multi-junction architectures can overcome this single-junction efficiency limit. Perovskite materials offer both band-gap tunability and solution processability. This unique combination of properties allows for fabrication of multi-junction solar cells using high-throughput deposition techniques such as blade coating, roll-to-roll, gravure coating or inkjet printing. However, these solar cells have yet to be fabricated using these deposition techniques due to difficulties in sequentially depositing these semiconductors. By utilizing an acetonitrile/methylamine-based solvent, we demonstrate the first monolithic all-perovskite multi-junction solar cells fabricated via solution processing of all active layers, apart from the electrodes. Perovskite solar cells can be processed using solution-based methods. Furthermore, perovskite solar cells can tune their band gap to absorb different portions of the solar spectrum. This property allows for fabrication of multi-junction solar cell, which can offer higher power conversion efficiencies than single-junction architecture. Here, we combine both features to fabricate the first solution-processed, monolithic, all-perovskite tandem and triple-junction solar cells.

Abstract:

Many optoelectronic properties have been reported for lead halide perovskite polycrystalline films. However, ambiguities in the evaluation of these properties remain, especially for long-range lateral charge transport, where ionic conduction can complicate interpretation of data. Here we demonstrate a new technique to measure the long-range charge carrier mobility in such materials. We combine quasi-steady-state photo-conductivity measurements (electrical probe) with photo-induced transmission and reflection measurements (optical probe) to simultaneously evaluate the conductivity and charge carrier density. With this knowledge we determine the lateral mobility to be ∼2 cm2 V−1 s−1 for CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) polycrystalline perovskite films prepared from the acetonitrile/methylamine solvent system. Furthermore, we present significant differences in long-range charge carrier mobilities, from 2.2 to 0.2 cm2 V−1 s−1, between films of contemporary perovskite compositions prepared via different fabrication processes, including solution and vapour phase deposition techniques. Arguably, our work provides the first accurate evaluation of the long-range lateral charge carrier mobility in lead halide perovskite films, with charge carrier density in the range typically achieved under photovoltaic operation.