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A series of alcohols (methanol, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol) were added to poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): (polystyrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) aqueous solutions in order to manipulate the molecular structure of the PEDOT chains in PEDOT: PSS hole transporting materials (HTMs) and thus to improve the power conversion efficiency of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 based solar cells. The structural and electronic characteristics of the resultant PEDOT: PSS HTMs were analyzed using atomic-force microscopy, contact angle measurement, Raman scattering spectrometry and photoelectron spectrometry. The properties of the PEDOT: PSS thin films could be controlled by tuning the viscosity of the PEDOT: PSS solutions. High viscosity PEDOT: PSS solutions resulted in linear structured PEDOT chains, which increased the work function of the PEDOT: PSS HTMs thereby improving the open-circuit voltage of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 solar cells. The surface roughness and surface free energy of the PEDOT: PSS HTMs influence the structural properties of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films, which determines the exciton dissociation at the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 /PEDOT: PSS interface (short-circuit current density) and the carrier recombination at the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 /[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 61 BM) interface (fill factor). In addition, it is predicted that the power conversion efficiency can be further improved by increasing the crystallinity of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of nonpolar antisolvents (chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, iodobenzene and toluene) were used to assist in the formation of smooth and crystalline CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films by a one-step spin-coating method. The structural, optical and excitonic characteristics of the resultant CH 3 NH 3 PI 3 thin films were analyzed using an atomic-force microscope, X-ray diffractometer, absorbance spectrum, photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, time-resolved PL and temperature-dependent PL. The properties of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films are dependent on the relative polarity and boiling point of the nonpolar antisolvents used in the washing treatment process. The interplay between nucleation (relative polarity) and crystal growth (boiling point) during the formation of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films influences the short-circuit current density (J SC ) and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the corresponding solar cells. The experimental results demonstrate that iodobenzene can be substituted for toluene as a more efficient antisolvent in the washing treatment process during the fabrication of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films. In addition, it is predicted that the J SC and PCE can be further improved by increasing the crystallinity of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multicrystalline grain size of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films can be manipulated by using different precursor concentrations which dominate the competition between the nucleation and crystal growth during the one-step spin-coating process with the toluene washing treatment. A comprehensive study was carried out to explore the correlation between the structural properties and the exciton dynamics in CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films fabricated using various precursor concentrations from 1.25 M to 1.65 M. The experimental results show that the precursor concentration influences the grain size and exciton dynamics of the resultant CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films which were fabricated on top of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene sulfonate/ITO/glass substrates. The higher average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.66% achieved can be explained as being due to the formation of a larger CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 grain size which thus results in higher photocurrent generation and lower voltage loss. It is predicted that the PCE can be further improved when the voltage loss across the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin film is minimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phase-pure mixed-organic-cation perovskite absorber (MOC-PA) was fabricated by a one-step spin-coating process with a toluene washing treatment, and the structural, optical and excitonic properties of the resultant MOC-PAs were then characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, absorbance spectrometer, and time-resolved photoluminescence. The averaged power conversion efficiency (PCE) of inverted phase-pure MOC-PA based photovoltaics could be improved from 12.21% to 13.28% by tailing the surface roughness of the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin film from 1.43 nm to 1.84 nm. The improved PCE is mainly due to the increased short-circuit current density ( J SC ) which is attributed to the improvement of the exciton dissociation, as confirmed by photoluminescence experiments. In addition, the experimental results indicate that the PCE can be further improved by increasing the crystallinity of MOC-PAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]