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Water- and heat-activated dynamic passivation for perovskite photovoltaics

Nature (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Further improvements in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) require better control of ionic defects in the perovskite photoactive layer during the manufacturing stage and their usage1-5. Here, we report a living passivation strategy using a hindered urea/thiocarbamate bond6-8 Lewis acid-base material (HUBLA), where dynamic covalent bonds with water and heat-activated characteristics can dynamically heal the perovskite to ensure device performance and stability. Upon exposure to moisture or heat, HUBLA generates new agents and further passivates defects in the perovskite. This passivation strategy achieved high-performance devices with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.1%. HUBLA devices retained 94% of their initial PCE for approximately 1500 hours of aging at 85 °C in N2 and maintained 88% of their initial PCE after 1000 hours of aging at 85 °C and 30% relative humidity (RH) in air.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Wei-Ting Wang, Philippe Holzhey, Ning Zhou, Qiang Zhang

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Systems Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Wei-Ting Wang, Yijie Mu & Shien-Ping Feng

  2. Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

    Philippe Holzhey, Suer Zhou, Elisabeth A. Duijnstee & Henry J. Snaith

  3. Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Philippe Holzhey, Kevin J. Rietwyk & Udo Bach

  4. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Ning Zhou & Hin‐Lap Yip

  5. School of Chemistry, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China

    Qiang Zhang & Yanfeng Zhang

  6. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung City, Taiwan

    Jeng-Yu Lin

  7. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong

    Yijie Mu

  8. Department of Chemistry and Research Center for New Generation Light Driven Photovoltaic Modules, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

    Chun-Guey Wu

  9. School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Hin‐Lap Yip

  10. Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Hin‐Lap Yip & Shien-Ping Feng

  11. Center Of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Hin‐Lap Yip

Authors
  1. Wei-Ting Wang
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  2. Philippe Holzhey
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  3. Ning Zhou
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  4. Qiang Zhang
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  5. Suer Zhou
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  6. Elisabeth A. Duijnstee
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  7. Kevin J. Rietwyk
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  8. Jeng-Yu Lin
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  9. Yijie Mu
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  10. Yanfeng Zhang
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  11. Udo Bach
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  12. Chun-Guey Wu
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  13. Hin‐Lap Yip
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  14. Henry J. Snaith
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  15. Shien-Ping Feng
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Henry J. Snaith or Shien-Ping Feng.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

This file contans Supplementary Figures 1-46, Supplementary Notes 1-12, Supplementary Table 1, and Suppleemntary References.

Supplementary Video 1

Adhesion strength of the bonded crystals after curing for 1 hour. We conducted adhesion tests to assess the binding force of HUBLA between the two crystals after curing for 1 hour. The results demonstrate that the adhesion strength of the bonded crystals can be estimated to be around 2 grams.

Supplementary Video 2

Adhesion strength of the bonded crystals after curing for 2 hours. The results demonstrate that when the curing time of two crystals increases to 2 hours, the adhesion strength of the bonded crystals can be estimated to be around 5 grams.

Supplementary Video 3

Adhesion strength of the bonded crystals after curing for 8 hours. The results demonstrate that when the curing time of two crystals increases to 8 hours, the adhesion strength of the bonded crystals can be estimated to be around 10 grams.

Supplementary Video 4

Adhesion strength of the bonded crystals after curing for 25 hours. The results demonstrate that when the curing time of two crystals increases to 25 hours, the adhesion strength of the bonded crystals can be estimated to be around 20 grams.

Supplementary Video 5

Adhesion experiment using HUBLA dissolved in ethanol. HUBLA is dissolved in ethanol and used for bonding the perovskite crystals. The result indicates that ethanol can be used as a solvent for HUBLA.

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Cite this article

Wang, WT., Holzhey, P., Zhou, N. et al. Water- and heat-activated dynamic passivation for perovskite photovoltaics. Nature (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07705-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07705-5

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