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In this paper, the experimentally studied perovskite solar cell structure, ITO/SnO2/(FAPbI3) 1 − x (MAPbBr 3 − y Cly)x/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au, is considered as our primary cell structure. The Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator is used to investigate the cell performance. The cell performance is obtained after optimizing the influence of layer thickness (open circuit voltage = 1. 0 3 V, short circuit current = 2 5. 2 1 mA/cm2, fill factor = 6 5. 4 9 %, power conversion efficiency = 1 7. 0 2 %). In addition, various inorganic hole transporting layers are incorporated in place of Spiro-OMeTAD to improve cell stability and performance. Finally, with an open circuit voltage = 1. 1 3 V, a short circuit current = 2 7. 6 4 mA/cm2, a fill factor = 6 2. 1 5 %, and a power conversion efficiency = 19.55%, the optimized cell structure i.e., ITO/SnO2/(FAPbI3) 1 − x (MAPbBr 3 − y Cly)x/CulnSe2/Au, performs better. The cell performance is examined in relation to defect density in the absorber layer and at the layer interface. The primary cell results are also validated with the existing experimental results in the literature. This research will pave the way for the development of highly efficient mix-cation perovskite solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal phthalocyanine (MPc) and naphthalocyanine (MNc) as hole-transport materials have the advantage of applying perovskite solar cells with excellent chemical stability. The purpose of this study is to fabricate and characterize perovskite solar cells using MPc and MNc as hole-transporting layers to improve their photovoltaic performance and stability. The effects of MPc and MNc on the photovoltaic properties and stability, crystallinity, surface morphology, and electronic structures have been investigated. The incorporation of nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc) as surface passivation supported the crystal growth and uniform film formation in the perovskite layer, yielding stability of performance. The photovoltaic mechanism has been discussed with the energy diagram of perovskite solar cells using an NiPc layer. The insertion of NiPc optimized the energy levels near the highest occupied molecular orbital while adjusting the valence band levels of the perovskite crystals, supporting charge-transfer from the perovskite crystal to the hole-transporting layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A back-contact perovskite solar cell (BC-PSC) has been simulated. The J–V curves were calculated with different degrees of the interfacial recombination, and the characteristics of basic physical phenomena inside the device, including carrier concentration distribution, ion concentration distribution, electric potential change, and carrier recombination rate, have also been investigated. It was found that the effect of the perovskite layer's upper surface (US) interfacial recombination on the hysteresis phenomenon is greater than that of the perovskite layer's lower surface (LS) interfacial recombination. In addition, it has been found that the inverted hysteresis phenomenon occurs in the BC-PSC with the LS interfacial recombination. Moreover, the hysteresis loops corresponding to the US interfacial recombination of the perovskite layer were close to the short-circuit current side, and the hysteresis loops corresponding to the LS interfacial recombination of the perovskite layer were close to the open-circuit voltage side. These results indicate that both of the US and LS interface recombinations in the BC-PSC play a crucial role in the hysteresis phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commonly used hole transport layer (HTL) Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) still has some shortcomings that will limit the development of Pb–Sn perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this work, multifunctional ammonium sulfide (AS) is attempted to modify PEDOT:PSS/perovskite interface. AS has multiple effects on different functional layers and the device as a whole: a) optimize the perovskite crystallization by the formation of PbS nucleation sites; b) neutralize the acidity of PEDOT:PSS by reaction with PSS; c) promote carrier transport at HTL/perovskite interface by tuning the energy level of PEDOT:PSS. As a result, a power conversion efficiency of 24.23% is obtained in the reverse scanning direction and 23.84% in the steady‐state output power test for the single‐junction Pb–Sn PSCs, and 27.48% for all‐perovskite tandem solar cells. These results show that AS modification can be an effective way to boost the development of Pb–Sn PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV radiation presents a substantial challenge to the stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), limiting their applications in harsh environments such as outer space. Herein, UV‐resistant molecule octinoxate (OCT) is introduced to mitigate the adverse effects of UV irradiation. OCT additive demonstrates the capability to modulate the crystallization process, resulting in perovskite films with larger grains and enhanced crystallinity. Moreover, OCT doping also facilitates charge extraction in PSCs. The PSCs with OCT doping exhibit an enhanced efficiency, increasing from 22.46% to 24.64%, along with improved stability with a T85 of 1000 h under continuous light exposure. Functioning as a sunscreen material, OCT mitigates UV‐induced degradation by absorbing irradiation and hindering I2 escape. Even after continuous exposure to 18.7 kWh m−2 UV illumination, the OCT‐doped PSCs maintain over 92% of their initial efficiency, meeting the 15 kWh m−2 UV exposure requirement specified in the IEC:61215 PV robustness testing standard. This study offers a straightforward approach to enhance the durability of PSCs under UV radiation, opening avenues for their application in extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectively suppressing nonradiative recombination at the SnO2/perovskite interface is imperative for perovskite solar cells. Although the capabilities of alkali salts at the SnO2/perovskite interface have been acknowledged, the effects and optimal selection of alkali metal cations remain poorly understood. Herein, a novel approach for obtaining the optimal alkali metal cation (A‐cation) at the interface is investigated by comparatively analyzing different alkali carbonates (A2CO3; Li2CO3, Na2CO3, K2CO3, Rb2CO3, and Cs2CO3). Theoretical calculations demonstrate that A2CO3 coordinates with undercoordinated Sn and O on the surface, effectively mitigating oxygen vacancy (VO) defects with increasing A‐cation size, whereas Cs2CO3 exhibits diminished preferability owing to enhanced steric hindrance. The experimental results highlight the crucial role of Rb2CO3 in actively passivating VO defects, forming a robust bond with SnO2, and facilitating Rb+ diffusion into the perovskite layer, thereby enhancing charge extraction, alleviating deep‐level trap states and structural distortion in the perovskite film, and significantly suppressing nonradiative recombination. X‐ray absorption spectroscopy analyses further reveal the effect of Rb2CO3 on the local structure of the perovskite film. Consequently, a Rb2CO3‐treated device with aperture area of 0.14 cm2 achieves a notable efficiency of 22.10%, showing improved stability compared to the 20.11% achieved for the control device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible perovskite solar cells (f‐PSCs) have drawn widespread interest owing to their distinguished advantages in excellent flexibility and relatively low cost. However, the brittle grain boundaries (GBs) and defects in flexible perovskite film tremendously influence the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and mechanical flexibility of f‐PSCs. Herein, photothermal welding, a novel method, is used to improve the perovskite films quality and the PCE of f‐PSCs with a near‐infrared (NIR) dye (indocyanine green, ICG) and polycaprolactone (PCL) as additives. Due to the strong photothermal effect, ICG molecule not only can significantly enhance NIR light harvesting, but it also can weld GBs upon exposure to an NIR laser, which is conducive to the GBs connections and device flexibility. Meanwhile, the S═O bond of ICG and C═O bond of PCL can simultaneously coordinate with Pb2+ defects in perovskite. Furthermore, they can control crystal growth to form a smooth surface of perovskite film. Consequently, the unencapsulated PSCs based on ICG/PCL displays a high champion PCE of 20.62%, with 88.4% of the original PCE after being placed in dark conditions for 600 h. The f‐PSCs delivers a champion PCE of 19.55% and exhibits excellent mechanical stability, thus providing a meaningful scientific direction to fabricate high‐flexible f‐PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) is considered an efficient HTL of low cost and with high stability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the diethyl sulfide solvent used for CuSCN preparation is known to cause damage to the underlying perovskite layer in n-i-p PSCs. Antisolvent treatment of CuSCN during spin-coating can effectively minimize interfacial interactions. However, the effects of antisolvent treatment are not sufficiently understood. In this study, the effects of five different antisolvents were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses showed that the antisolvent treatment improved the crystallinity of the CuSCN layer on the perovskite layer and reduced damage to the perovskite layer. However, X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy analyses showed that antisolvent treatment did not affect the chemical bonds or electronic structures of CuSCN. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of the PSCs was increased from 14.72% for untreated CuSCN to 15.86% for ethyl-acetate-treated CuSCN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is often constrained by significant open‐circuit voltage (VOC) losses attributed to non‐radiative recombination processes induced by detrimental trap states. Surface treatments using passivating ligands typically involve single active binding sites on perovskite, posing challenges for effective passivation. Here, an aromatic donor‐acceptor (D‐A) configured phthalocyanine treatment is proposed to aim at dual‐site passivation of uncoordinated lead ions and effective mitigation of shallow and deep‐level defects on the perovskite surface. The resulting benign p‐type surface facilitates a more favorable energy level alignment and reduces energetic mismatches at the perovskite/Spiro‐OMeTAD interface. Pc‐BTBC, with its aromatic D‐A configuration, demonstrated compatibility with various perovskite compositions. Optimized PSCs achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.15% and reduces the VOC deficit to 0.379 V. Furthermore, encapsulated devices exhibited enhanced stability under damp‐heat conditions (ISOS‐D‐2, 50% RH, 65°C) with a T92 of 1000 h and maintained maximum power point tracking under continuous light in ambient air at 65°C (ISOS‐L‐2). Notably, fabricated wide‐bandgap semitransparent PSCs (ST‐PSCs) achieved a PCE of 20.29%, while four‐terminal perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (4T‐P/STSCs) demonstrated an efficiency of 29.38%. This study provides insights into minimizing VOC losses and represents significant progress toward commercializing perovskite photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystalline quality is paramount for the performance and stability of perovskite films and devices. By regulating the nucleation and growth processes, it is possible to significantly enhance the crystalline quality. This work introduces a bidirectional synergistic crystallization strategy (BSC strategy) that synchronizes the crystallization kinetics across both the top and bottom surfaces of the perovskite film, thereby enhancing film quality and boosting the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Employing time‐resolved optical characterization techniques, it is demonstrated that the BSC strategy effectively mitigates the dissolution–recrystallization cycle of the perovskite nuclei and grains during annealing, accelerates the evaporation of residual solvents at the bottom of the perovskite film, and suppresses void formation at the buried interface. Depth‐resolved grazing‐incidence wide‐angle scattering analyses further confirm that the BSC strategy improves the crystalline quality of the perovskite film, promotes oriented growth, and minimizes internal residual strains caused by uneven growth dynamics. This approach results in a champion device efficiency of 24.98%, with the low voltage deficit of 360 mV. Moreover, device stability is markedly enhanced, after 1000 h of continuous light exposure, the efficiency remains over 91% of the initial value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The buried interface between the electron transport layer (ETL) and the perovskite layer plays a crucial role in enhancing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of n–i–p type perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, the interface between the chemical bath deposited (CBD) titanium oxide (TiO2) ETL and the perovskite layer using multi‐functional potassium trifluoromethyl sulfonate (SK) is modified. Structural and elemental analyses reveal that the trifluoromethyl sulfonate serves as a crosslinker between the TiO2 and the perovskite layer, thus improving the adhesion of the perovskite to the TiO2 ETL through strong bonding of the ─CF3 and ─SO3− terminal groups. Furthermore, the multi‐functional modifiers reduced interface defects and suppressed carrier recombination in the PSCs. Consequently, devices with a champion PCE of 25.22% and a fill factor (FF) close to 85% is achieved, marking the highest PCE and FF observed for PSCs based on CBD TiO2. The unencapsulated device maintained 81.3% of its initial PCE after operating for 1000 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exceptional performance and potential of 2D/3D perovskites for enhancing the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are extensively studied. However, selecting appropriate organic ligands is critical to this process. The incorporation of suitable ligands into the 2D layer can passivate surface defects, regulate energy level alignment, and significantly improve device stability. Conversely, using unsuitable ligands not only fails to achieve the desired functions, but also negatively impacts device efficiency by hindering charge carrier transport and causing energy level mismatch issues. Therefore, exploring the selection of organic ligands based on different requirements is essential. In this review, recent studies are classified based on the chemical structure of organic ligands, analyze their application requirements, and provide suggestions for choosing optimal organic ligands to construct 2D/3D perovskites. Additionally, the feasibility and necessity of utilizing more efficient organic ligands while providing guidance for future research on 2D/3D PSCs are emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered the most promising photovoltaic devices to replace silicon-based solar cells because of their low preparation cost and high photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE). Reducing defects in perovskite films is an effective means to improve the efficiency of PSCs. In this paper, a lead chelator was selected and mixed into hole transport layers (HTLs) to design and prepare mesoporous PSCs with the structure of ITO/PTAA(BCP)/Al2O3/PVK/PCBM/BCP/Ag, and its modification effect on the buried interface at the bottom of the perovskite layer in the mesoporous structure was explored. The experimental results show that in the presence of mesoporous alumina, the lead chelator can still play a role in modifying the bottom of the perovskite film. The use of lead chelator as passivation material added to the HTL can effectively reduce the residue of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and decrease the defects at the bottom of the perovskite film, which dramatically improves the device performance. The PCE of the device is increased from 18.03% to 20.78%, which is an increase of 15%. The work in this paper provides an effective method to enhance the performance of PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have gained popularity in recent times due to their high-power conversion efficiency (PCE) and cost-effective manufacturing. Heterojunction devices are emerging as an interesting topic for researchers. In this study, a comparison is made between the experimental performance and their numerical simulations using the solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D) software of CsPbI3/CsPbBr3 perovskite bilayer and CsPbI3 single-layer perovskite solar cell. It is evident from the experimental results that the incorporation of CsPbBr3 layer enhances the PCE from 4.92 to 9.9% under solar illumination. Further, an ideally optimized device was made using SCAPS-1D by varying the thickness, defect density, back metal contact and temperature. The influence of series and shunt resistances (Rseries and Rshunt) was theoretically investigated and discussed using the SCAPS-1D program to model the electrical characteristics of the cell as a function of active layer composition. Without these parasitic resistances, the results of the ideal device do not resemble the experimentally calculated values. By feeding the experimentally calculated Rseries and Rshunt values to SCAPS-1D, we can analyse the primary constraints of the device's current voltage characteristics. Ultimately, it is established that the heterojunction device can help in enhancing the performance of PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in the field of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), particularly those comprised of organic–inorganic lead halides, resulting in a remarkable record efficiency of 25.20%. However, the persistent issue of lead toxicity poses a considerable barrier to their widespread commercial adoption. To address this challenge, this study focuses on the optimization of lead-free germanium-based halide PSCs using SCAPS-1D simulation software. In our investigation, CsGeI3 serves as the absorber layer, TiO2 functions as the electron transport layer (ETL), Cu2O is utilized as the hole transport layer (HTL), and various metals are employed as the back metal contact (BMC). The optimization of the BMC leads to the establishment of the FTO/TiO2/CsGeI3/Cu2O/Ni structure. Subsequent optimization steps include fine-tuning the thickness of the absorber, ETL, and HTL layers, as well as optimizing acceptor doping and defect density in the absorber and HTL layers. Sequentially, donor doping and defect density in the ETL are investigated. Interfacial defect densities, along with the impact of temperature, series resistance, and shunt resistance on the photovoltaic performance, are also considered. Upon completion of these optimization procedures, the final device exhibits notable performance characteristics, including an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.165 V, fill factor (FF) of 88.52%, short-circuit current density (JSC) of 24.40 mA/cm2, and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.16%. Furthermore, the optimized structure without Cu2O HTL demonstrates impressive performance, yielding a PCE of 25.15%. The outcomes presented in this study hold promise for the development of advanced lead-free PSCs, paving the way for high conversion efficiencies in future solar energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐healing transparent polymers are advantageous for various optoelectronic devices to improve resilience and durability. However, most of these materials have been applied only as flat films and do not address the need for optical structures that can manipulate light. Here optical microstructures embossed on a self‐healing polyurea film are presented which can autonomously recover from damage in ambient conditions. The polyurea film have a high optical transmittance above 90% and haze below 1.3%, and Young's modulus of 3.4 MPa. When applied as a protective light‐trapping layer for perovskite solar cells, the champion device shows improved short circuit current density from 23.7 to 25.0 mA·cm−2, and power conversion efficiency from 21.5% to 23.0%. Furthermore, the solar cell with the light‐trapping layer has improved impact resistance and can recover its performance after being scratched. It is envisioned that self‐healing optical structures can be realized for different geometries and materials in a range of optoelectronic applications to produce resilient and durable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbazole‐derived self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) with excellent hole‐extraction and injection properties are promising hole‐transporting materials for perovskite optoelectronic devices, including perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs). The performance and thermal stability of these SAMs are heavily influenced by their chemical structure. Herein, the construction of fused carbazole‐based SAMs is proposed by expanding the π‐conjugation of the carbazole unit for application in PSCs and PeLEDs. Three proof‐of‐concept SAMs are designed and synthesized, termed XS8, XS9, and XS10, that feature highly rigid and planar fused carbazole as the donor and a conjugated alkene unit as the linker. This conjugated extension improves planarity, stability, and enhances the molecular dipole moment. Among these, XS10, with the highest degree of conjugation, demonstrated superior performance in perovskite‐based devices. The PSC device utilizing XS10 achieves a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.28%, surpassing the 17.19% PCE of the classic 2PACz‐based device. Similarly, the PeLED device with XS10 achieves a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 16.6%, compared to 14.5% for PEDOT‐based devices. This work provides a novel molecular design strategy for creating efficient and stable SAMs for perovskite optoelectronics and other organic electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered to be a promising candidate for near‐space applications due to their high specific power, excellent radiation resistance, and compatibility with flexible substrates. Nevertheless, the low‐temperature cycles impose considerable challenges to their long‐term stability. Herein, the extremely low‐temperature photovoltaic process of PSCs is investigated and the effect mechanisms of PAN (Polyacrylonitrile) as an additive are revealed. It is found that the additive PAN regulates perovskite lattice stress and stabilizes perovskite lattice structure and thus retards perovskite phase transition at low temperatures. Moreover, the PAN improves perovskite dielectric properties and ion migration activation energy and effectively passivates perovskite defects at low temperatures. Therefore, the carrier transport/extraction/collection abilities at low temperatures are enhanced effectively by alleviating exciton effect and increasing dielectric screening effect. Benefiting from these positive effects of PAN, the PAN‐modified device achieves a maximum efficiency of 24.34% at 150K and maintains 72% of its initial value after 120 thermal cycles (290‐130K). Also, the PAN‐modified flexible devices exhibit excellent bending stability and thermal cycle stability. This study provides a deep insight into understanding the extremely low‐temperature photovoltaic behavior of PSCs and demonstrates the potentiality of PAN additive strategy for achieving efficient and stable PSCs at low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells are among the most promising new solar technologies, already surpassing polycrystalline silicon solar cell efficiencies. The stability of the highest efficiency devices at elevated temperature is, however, poor. These cells typically use Spiro‐MeOTAD as the hole transporting layer. It is generally believed that additives, required for enhancing electrical conductivity and optimizing energy level alignment, are responsible for the reduced stability—inferring that Spiro‐MeOTAD based hole transporting layers are intrinsically unstable. Here, a reliable noble metal free synthesis of Spiro‐MeOTAD (bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide)4 is presented which is used as the oxidizing agent. No additives are added to the partially oxidized Spiro‐MeOTAD hole‐transporting layer. Device efficiencies up to 24.2% are achieved. Electrical conductivity is largely developed by the first 1% oxidation. Further oxidation shifts the energy levels away from the vacuum level, which allows tuning of the energy level alignment without the use of additives—contradicting the current understanding of this system. Without additives, devices demonstrate significant improvement in stability at elevated temperatures up to 85 °C under one sun over 1400 h continuous illumination. The remaining degradation is pinpointed to ion migration and reactions in the perovskite layer which may be further suppressed with compositional engineering and adequate ion barrier layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hole‐collecting monolayers have greatly advanced the development of positive‐intrinsic‐negative perovskite solar cells (p‐i‐n PSCs). To date, however, most of the anchoring groups in the reported monolayer materials are designed to bind to the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) surface, resulting in less availability for other functions such as tuning the wettability of the monolayer surface. In this work, we developed two anchorable molecules, 4PATTI‐C3 and 4PATTI‐C4, by employing a saddle‐like indole‐fused cyclooctatetraene as a π‐core with four phosphonic acid anchoring groups linked through propyl or butyl chains. Both molecules form monolayers on TCO substrates. Thanks to the saddle shape of a cyclooctatetraene skeleton, two of the four phosphonic acid anchoring groups were found to point upward, resulting in hydrophilic surfaces. Compared to the devices using 4PATTI‐C4 as the hole‐collecting monolayer, 4PATTI‐C3‐based devices exhibit a faster hole‐collection process, leading to higher power conversion efficiencies of up to 21.7 % and 21.4 % for a mini‐cell (0.1 cm2) and a mini‐module (1.62 cm2), respectively, together with good operational stability. This work represents how structural modification of multipodal molecules could substantially modulate the functions of the hole‐collecting monolayers after being adsorbed onto TCO substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, eutectic gallium–indium alloy (EGaIn) liquid metal is used as the rear electrode for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), where the interfacial properties of the device, particularly the beneficial roles of the surface oxide of the liquid metal, are explored. The findings demonstrate that the native oxide of the EGaIn electrode significantly affects the stability of photovoltaic performance and impedance characteristics including series and shunt resistances. Based on the results, the following hypothesis is formulated: the oxide interlayer serves two crucial functions of a barrier against metal diffusion and a tunnel for enhancing charge extraction and transfer. The results of elemental mapping and trap density calculation support the former function of the hypothesis that the oxide film can effectively prevent metal penetration into the perovskite layer. Furthermore, measurements involving capacitance−voltage and time‐resolved photoluminescence confirm that the oxide film on the liquid metal eliminates the interfacial Schottky barrier, promoting efficient charge extraction and transfer processes. Finally, the investigation is extended to develop flexible PSCs using the EGaIn electrode, which consistently exhibits stable performance during repeated bending cycles. Notably, the EGaIn rear electrode can be readily removed and collected through a straightforward acid treatment, offering a promising avenue for efficient cell recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the invertible current–voltage characteristics of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). To that end, the well-known invertible analytical current–voltage dependencies expressed through the Lambert W function are analyzed and checked on three examples. It is concluded that the expression for voltage–current characteristics is not applicable for a whole voltage range (for no-load and low-load operation). Therefore, an analytical closed-form expression for PSC voltage–current characteristics is derived by using the g-function (or LogWright function). Second, a novel closed-form expression for the no-load voltage is derived. Third, a novel iterative procedure for solving the g-function is proposed. The proposed iterative procedure for solving g-functions, called g-IP, is independent of the initial conditions, unlike in the literature. Furthermore, for large values of the argument of the g-function, approximate solutions for g-function solving were derived and tested, especially for regions about the maximum power point. The proposed approach guarantees an accurate representation of the PSC voltage–current characteristics. Therefore, this paper represents unique research in the field of PSC modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defect ordered and low dimensional Cs3Bi2I9 planar perovskites have garnered enormous significance in photovoltaic applications due to their remarkable stability against oxygen, heat, and moisture. Despite these advantages, the power conversion efficiencies of Cs3Bi2I9-based planar perovskites remain relatively low. This is primarily attributed to their wide band gap of approximately 2 eV and losses due to interfacial charge recombination. To resolve this issue, this article proposes a novel design of Cs3Bi2I9–La2NiMnO6 based dual absorber composition to form a ITO/ETL/Cs3Bi2I9/La2NiMnO6(LNMO)/HTL multi-heterojunction perovskite solar cell (PSC) architecture. Incorporating La2NiMnO6 oxide material as secondary multifunctional double perovskite absorber layer (DPAL), which possesses a lower band gap of 1.05 eV, as a secondary absorber layer enhances efficient charge separation. This material functions as a hole transport conductor, facilitating the creation of a cascade band-matched hole extraction system with the Cu2ZnSnS4 (CFTS) hole transport material (HTM). Optimized optical response along with precisely aligned energy levels of the proposed Cs3Bi2I9–La2NiMnO6(LNMO) absorber composition greatly attributes in enhanced optical absorption with reduced recombination losses. The critical device parameters of the proposed PSC architecture have been intensively optimized through SCAPS-1D simulator to attain a substantially affordable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.02%%, short circuit current (Jsc) of 42.7 mA/cm2, open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.863 V, and fill factor (FF) of 75.01% device defect density of 1015 cm−3 under AM 1.5 photo illumination. Notably, the utilization of a dual-absorber structure comprising Cs3Bi2I9 and La2NiMnO6 materials proves to be significantly more efficient in terms of quantum efficiency and wide spectral coverage at optimal values compared to using either material alone as single absorbers. The proposed model achieves a peak efficiency of approximately 90.22% over a spectral range of 300–1200 nm, surpassing the efficiency of 80% attained with a single Cs3Bi2I9 absorber covering a spectral range of 300–980 nm. Additionally, it outperforms the efficiency of 83% achieved by the single La2NiMnO6(LNMO) absorber within the spectral range of 300–1200 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our heavy reliance on fossil fuels has taken a massive toll on us. The quickly depleting reserve of fossil fuels and its impact on the environment have prompted mankind to look for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Among many renewable energy sources being implicated and investigated in this regard, solar energy has found a special importance, and its implication offers acknowledgement to unlimited energy provided by the sun cantered in our solar system. Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are one of the most popularly researched solar cells that have already shown incredible ability to harness solar energy. At the onset, organic-inorganic hybrid PSCs showed great potential but their degradation upon exposure to moisture, heat, oxygen, and even light has cornered them. Recently, CsPbI3-based PSCs have shown great promise in terms of power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, they do suffer from some sort of instability at ambient conditions. To counteract this dilemma, many strategies are being implemented by scientists around the globe. This review highlights some recent advances in the field of CsPbI3-based PSCs specifically. In addition to that, some approaches have been suggested that how both the PCE and stability can be improved further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiOx as a hole transport material for inverted perovskite solar cells has received great attention owing to its high transparency, low fabrication temperature, and superior stability. However, the mismatched energy levels and possible redox reactions at the NiOx/perovskite interface severely limit the performance of NiOx-based inverted perovskite solar cells. Herein, we introduce a p-type self-assembled monolayer between NiOx and perovskite layers to modify the interface and block the undesirable redox reaction between perovskite and NiOx. The self-assembled monolayer molecules all contain phosphoric acid function groups, which can be anchored onto the NiOx surface and passivate the surface defect. Moreover, the introduction of self-assembled monolayers can regulate the energy level structure of NiOx, reduce the interfacial band energy offset, and hence promote the hole transport from perovskite to NiOx layer. Consequently, the device performance is significantly enhanced in terms of both power conversion efficiency and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have gained a lot of attention due to their high efficiency and low cost. In this research paper, a methylammonium tin iodide (CH3NH3SnI3) based solar cell was simulated using a one-dimensional solar cell capacitance simulation (SCAPS-1D) tool. The SCAPS-1D tool is based on Poisson and the semiconductor equations. After thorough investigation, the initial device presents the following parameters; power conversion efficiency (PCE)=15.315%, fill factor (FF)=64.580%, current density (Jsc)=29.152 mA/cm2, and open circuit voltage (Voc)=0.813 V. The effect of absorber and ETL thicknesses were explored systematically. The performance of the simulated device was significantly influenced by the thickness of the absorber and ETL. The optimized absorber thickness was 0.5 µm and the ETL thickness was 0.02 µm, giving rise to an optimized PCE of 15.411%, FF of 63.525%, Jsc of 29.812 mA/cm2, and Voc of 0.814 V. Additionally, the effect of temperature on the optimized device was evaluated and found that it affects the performance of the device. This model shows the prospect of CH3NH3SnI3 as a perovskite material to produce toxic-free environment-friendly solar cells with high efficiency.

Electron transport layer has always played a crucial role in the performance of the perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Particularly, SnO 2 -based PSC has sparked considerable interest due to its superior properties. Even with such remarkable properties, certain challenges persist such as agglomeration of SnO 2 particles which can lead to interfacial defects and poor morphology. To solve this problem, Agmatine Sulfate (AGTS) has been introduced as an interfacial modification agent which with the help of its active functional group including amide (-NH 2) and hydroxyl (OH) has allowed to facilitate the interaction at the interface between SnO 2 and perovskite. The interaction facilitates the growth of perovskite crystals while tuning the energy levels which has boosted the charge transfer capability of the layer. All these improvements in the properties have led to enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 11.17 % to 15.20 % for the encapsulated device. Furthermore, the modification also improved the long-term stability of the device as the AGTS-modified devices retained 87 % of their performance at 15–25 °C with humidity levels between 10 and 20 % for over a period of 31 days. Finally, the devices prepared with the AGTS also showed repeatability in their performance while boosting the overall performance of carbon-based PSCs (C–PSCs) and indicating a novel approach to not only increase but also accelerate the commercialization of C-PSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This article investigates the impact of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), specifically focusing on the type of metal and the morphology of the MOF. Two types of MOFs, copper-benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Cu-BTC MOF) with spherical morphology and cobalt-benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Co-BTC MOF) with rod morphology, are synthesized and spin-coated on TiO2 substrates to form FTO/TiO2/MOF/CH3NH3PbI3/C-paste PSCs. The morphology and size of the MOFs are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the crystallinity and residual PbI2 of the perovskite films are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that the Co-BTC MOF PSC exhibits the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.4% and the best stability, retaining 82% of its initial PCE after 264 h of storage in ambient air. The improved performance and stability are attributed to the enhanced crystallinity and reduced residual PbI2 of the perovskite film after Co-BTC MOF modification. The paper showcases the immense potential of MOF-based interlayers to revolutionize PSC technology, offering a path toward next-generation solar cells with enhanced performance and longevity.

Abstract The most rapidly expanding type of solar cells are the Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs), because of its high device performance, ease of synthesis, high open-circuit voltage, and affordability. Despite these advantages, the development of perovskite-based solar cells continues to be impeded by the issues with perovskite stability and the utilization of the hazardous heavy element lead (Pb). The study emphasizes on the bifacial structure that maintains the conventional absorber layer and electron transport layer (ETL) in the optimized PSC structure. This study employs SCAPS software for device simulation to comprehensively analyze how various parameters affect the performance of solar cells. Additionally, doping concentration variation in both ETL and HTL are explored. The simulation reveals that changing device structure from monofacial to bifacial significantly influences PSC performance, demonstrating that optimizing individual layers effectively enhances overall solar cell performance. The optimized structure achieves impressive PSC performance metrics through parametric analysis, such as voltage (VOC) of 1.18 V, fill factor (FF) of 82.24%, current density (JSC) of 27.12 mA/cm2, power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 27.90% for an incident solar spectrum from the ETL side, and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.86% for an incident solar spectrum from the HTL side, the calculated bifaciality factor (BF) for this structure is 71.18%.

Abstract Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have gained much attention in recent years because of their improved energy conversion efficiency, simple fabrication process, low processing temperature, flexibility, light weight, and low cost of constituent materials when compared with their counterpart silicon based solar cells. Besides, stability and toxicity of PSCs and low power conversion efficiency have been an obstacle towards commercialization of PSCs which has attracted intense research attention. In this research paper, a Glass/Cu2O/CH3NH3SnI3/ZnO/Al inverted device structure which is made of cheap inorganic materials, n-type transparent conducting oxide (TCO)-free, stable, photoexcited toxic-free perovskite have been carefully designed, simulated and optimized using a one-dimensional solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D) software. The effects of layers’ thickness, perovskite’s doping concentration and back contact electrodes have been investigated, and the optimized structure produced an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.0867 V, short circuit current density (JSC) of 33.4942 mA/cm2, fill factor (FF) of 82.88% and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 30.17%. This paper presents a model that is first of its kind where the highest PCE performance and eco-friendly n-type TCO-free inverted CH3NH3SnI3 based perovskite solar cell is achieved using all-inorganic transport materials.

With rapid progress in power conversion efficiencies, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have shown great potential as next-generation low-cost, efficient solar cell devices. Ultra-thin pure and Brdoped MoTe2 monolayer materials are promising candidates for alternative electron transport material in perovskite solar cell applications. The electronic, and optical properties of these materials were calculated using projector augmented plane wave (PAW) based on popular density-functional theory (DFT). These properties were calculated using Pardew-BurkeErnzerhof generalized gradient approximation (PBE-GGA). The band structure for the considered materials has been determined using full relativistic spin-orbital coupling (SOC). Our results indicate that pure and Br-doped 2D-MoTe2 were n-type semiconductors and had direct band gap energies of 1.01 and 1.21 eV respectively. The optical properties of the materials such as relative dielectric constant, transmission and reflectivity are presented. Using these properties, the 1-D solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D) software was used to design solar cells based on monolayer pure and Br-doped MoTe2 as an electron transport layer (ETL). The maximum efficiencies of these cells are 13.121%, and 24.016% with VOC of 1.067 V and 1.186 V, JSC of 21.678 mA/cm2 and 25.251 mA/cm2, and FF of 56.720% and 80.139% were realized with the pure and Br-doped ETLs respectively. The performance of our solar cells is comparable to traditional Si-based solar cells. The results show how monolayer pure and Br-doped MoTe2 can serve as a suitable ETL material for perovskite solar cells.

Abstract This study focuses on improving the quality of MAPbI3‐based perovskite films by adjusting the concentration ratios of the methylammonium iodide (MAI) precursor using a two‐step sequential deposition method. The primary objective is to explore how altering the MAI concentration influences the microstrain, dislocation density, perovskite film quality, and their subsequent impact on the performance of perovskite solar cells. The examined device configuration CdS/MAPbI3/Spiro‐OMeTAD demonstrates impressive power conversion efficiency of 12.05%, Voc of 1.02 V, Jsc of 16.2 mA cm−2, and fill factor of 0.73. X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analyses show improved crystal quality and surface characteristics with reduced microstrain, dislocation density, larger crystal grains, and minimized pinholes. The investigation of MAPbI3's optical and electrical characteristics provides in‐depth insights, facilitating the optimization of MAI precursor concentrations for improved perovskite film development and enhanced solar cell performance.

Perovskite tandem solar cells on textured silicon hold potential for surpassing single‐junction limits and industrial compatibility. However, integrating hole‐transporting layers (HTLs) onto textured silicon poses challenges in conformal coating, low‐temperature fabrication, and perovskite solution process compatibility. Here, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) copper‐doping process is introduced to fabricate low‐temperature NiOx HTLs (ALD Cu:NiOx), tailored for textured tandems. Copper‐doping reduces hydroxyl group content and Ni3+ defects, addressing the challenge of enhancing hole conductivity while mitigating recombination loss. This advancement enables to lower the post‐annealing temperature from >300 to 200 °C, achieving compatibility with silicon heterojunction (SHJ) cells and boosting the power‐conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.65‐eV p–i–n perovskite solar cells to 22.47%. Integrating ALD Cu:NiOx beneath conventional self‐assembled monolayer HTL on textured SHJ leads to notable PCE enhancements, from 28.6% to 30.5% for 1‐cm2 tandems (certified stabilized PCE of 30.04%) and from 23.9% to 26.4% for 8.89‐cm2 tandems. Following 1000 h of maximum‐power‐point (MPP) tracking, tandems maintain 95% of initial efficiency. Notably, losses in open‐circuit voltage and PCE due to area upscaling reduced by over 20%, attributed to ALD Cu:NiOx’s ability to enhance perovskite film wettability and minimize shunting on silicon pyramid texture, underscoring its impacts for textured tandem upscaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic small molecules have been proven to be the most efficient and predominantly employed hole transport layers (HTLs) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the reliance of HTLs on additives like Li‐TFSI has been unavoidable, particularly in terms of the well‐known Spiro‐OMeTAD. However, Li‐TFSI aggregation in HTL results in the decreased performance and stability of PSCs with serious hysteresis. It is an urgent need to explore a universal strategy to solve Li‐TFSI‐induced issues. Herein, a pyrene‐based organic semiconductor (PC) as an effective and universal additive for HTL application is developed. It is found that the introduction of PC can efficiently improve the hot carriers extraction/transfer and reduce the charge recombination in the device. Consequently, PSCs based on Spiro‐OMeTAD+PC as a HTL exhibit an excellent PCE of 24.80% with a negligible hysteresis, much higher than the control device (22.14%). Additionally, the efficiency of the PC incorporated into another well‐known X60 HTL‐treated device is enhanced to 24.12% from the control device (22.04%), confirming its universal application in PSCs. Moreover, PC can effectively suppress the Li+ aggregation in HTL, and the unencapsulated PSCs exhibit high stability. The findings in this work provide an effective and universal avenue to construct highly efficient and stable PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lattice mismatch significantly influences microscopic transport in semiconducting devices, affecting interfacial charge behavior and device efficacy. This atomic‐level disordering, often overlooked in previous research, is crucial for device efficiency and lifetime. Recent studies have highlighted emerging challenges related to lattice mismatch in perovskite solar cells, especially at heterojunctions, revealing issues like severe tensile stress, increased ion migration, and reduced carrier mobility. This review systematically discusses the effects of lattice mismatch on strain, material stability, and carrier dynamics. It also includes detailed characterizations of these phenomena and summarizes current strategies including epitaxial growth and buffer layer, as well as explores future solutions to mitigate mismatch‐induced issues. We also provide the challenges and prospects for lattice mismatch, aiming to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells, and contribute to renewable energy technology advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure‐phase α‐formamidinium lead iodide (α‐FAPbI3) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) possess potential high efficiency because of suitable bandgap. However, achieving high‐quality α‐FAPbI3 films during the spin‐coating process is challenging without anti‐solvent extraction, due to the spontaneous formation of the more stable δ‐FAPbI3 phase and the complexity of multi‐component perovskite precursor solutions. Here a gel precursor with an amorphous structure to eliminate the need for anti‐solvent extraction in achieving the homogeneous and highly oriented pure‐phase α‐FAPbI3 is devised films. The incorporation of N,N′‐dimethylpropyleneurea, and alkylammonium chloride results in extended iodoplumbate clusters in the perovskite precursor solution. In situ, spectroscopic analysis reveals that the emergence of the stable amorphous gel precursor during the initial solidification stage ensures a uniform solute distribution. This effectively prevents preferentially oriented growth in the crystal phase precursor, leading to a significant enhancement in film homogeneity. As a result, power conversion efficiencies of 24.17% for the PSC, and 19.3% for the module are achieved, along with superior operational stability, retaining 96.1% of their initial efficiency after 850 h at the maximum power point tracking. These demonstrate the best performance for the reported pure‐phase α‐FAPbI3 PSCs without anti‐solvent extraction, showing great promise for scalable manufacture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mismatched energy level alignment at the hole transport interface is recognized to be a prominent limitation for the Cs2AgBiBr6‐based perovskite solar cell (PSC) to achieve high power conversion efficiency (PCE) but has not been well investigated yet. In order to solve this problem to some extent, it is proposed to balance the energy offset at the Cs2AgBiBr6 and hole transport material (HTM) interface to reduce the hole transport barriers, and a novel HTM TPTI‐TPA2F with deep level is designed to implement this strategy. The research demonstrates that, on the one hand, the planar π‐conjugation and the presence of multiple heteroatoms on TPTI‐TPA2F facilitate the formation of well‐oriented film and surface defect passivation; on the other hand, the higher film ionization potential of TPTI‐TPA2F effectively balances the energy barrier for hole transport. As a result, improved hole‐selective contact is achieved with TPTI‐TPA2F as HTM, and the interfacial energy loss is suppressed. Correspondingly, the optimized Cs2AgBiBr6 PSCs using the TPTI‐TPA2F HTM without doped feature an excellent PCE of 4.05% and a high open circuit voltage of 1.15 V, with much improved long‐term humidity and thermal stability. This work provides an attractive strategy for developing efficient Cs2AgBiBr6 PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylammonium Lead Iodide (MAPbI3) has often been known to have a perovskite content and is widely employed in Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs). However, PSCs suffer from rapid degradation due to their low stability and sensitivity to light, heat, humidity, and air. Hence, this project proposes a two-step spin coat method to synthesize MAPbI3 perovskites in an ambient condition using two different types of solvent (DMF only and a mixture of DMF and DMSO) which were prepared to examine the quality of the perovskite layer. The thin films were characterized to study the structural, optical properties, and surface morphology using XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and SEM. The XRD results show that the perovskite layer prepared using a mixture of DMF and DMSO has a better crystallinity than DMF, even after the sample was kept for two days as the principal peaks confirm the complete formation of MAPbI3 perovskite film. UV-Vis showed that the perovskite layer prepared with the mixture of DMF and DMSO as the solvent has a higher absorbance than the perovskite layer prepared with DMF. The surface morphology of the MAPbI3 films consists of the formation of cubical crystals of uniform size with high compactness, as confirmed by the SEM analysis. However, after two days, both samples showed a degradation providing feedback on the occurred transition to PbI2 due to the contact with moisture and thermal stability. Moreover, the better stability of perovskite films was observed by a two-step than one-step process was demonstrated with comparatively good reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of wide bandgap (WBG) tin halide perovskites (Sn‐HPs) offers an environmentally friendly alternative for multi‐junction Sn‐HP photovoltaics. Nonetheless, rapid crystallization leads to suboptimal film morphology and substantial creation of defect states, which undermine device efficiency. This study introduces 4‐Phenylthiosemicarbazide (4PTSC) as an additive to achieve a densely packed Sn‐HP film with fewer imperfections. The strong chemical coordination between SnI2 and the functional groups S═C─N (Sn···S═C─N), NH2, and phenyl conjugation enhances solution stability and supports the delay of perovskite crystallization through adduct formation. This process yields pinhole‐free films with preferred grain growth. 4PTSC acts as a strong coordination complex and a reducing agent to passivate uncoordinated Sn2+ and halide ions and reduce the formation of SnI4, thereby reducing defect formation. The π‐conjugated phenyl ring in the 4PTSC facilitates the preferred crystal growth orientation of perovskite grains. Furthermore, the hydrophobic nature of 4PTSC mitigates Sn2+ oxidation by repelling moisture, enhancing stability. The open circuit voltage significantly increased from 0.78 to 0.94 V, resulting in achieving the champion efficiency of 12.22% (certified 11.70%), surpassing all previously reported efficiencies for WBG Sn halide perovskite solar cells. Additionally, the unencapsulated 4PTSC‐1.0 device maintained outstanding stability over 1200 h under ambient atmospheric conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ cyclized polyacrylonitrile (CPAN) is developed to replace n‐type metal oxide semiconductors (TiO2 or SnO2) as an electron selective layer (ESL) for highly efficient and stable n‐i‐p perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The CPAN layer is fabricated via facile in situ cyclization reaction of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) coated on a conducting glass substrate. The CPAN layer is robust and insoluble in common solvents, and possesses n‐type semiconductor properties with a high electron mobility of 4.13×10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1. With the CPAN as an ESL, the PSC affords a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.12 %, which is the highest for the n‐i‐p PSCs with organic ESLs. Moreover, the device with the CPAN layer holds superior operational stability, maintaining over 90 % of their initial efficiency after 500 h continuous light soaking. These results confirm that the CPAN layer would be a desirable low‐cost and efficient ESL for n‐i‐p PSCs and other photoelectronic devices with high performance and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting an integrated and consolidated strategy to energy generation, conversion, and storage is linked to energy sustainability in the modern day. Current investigation explores the lanthanide triple doping mechanism coupled with temperature optimization using (cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium)-oxide to modify CsPbI 2.2 Br 0.8 forming the stable [Ce3+-Pr3+-Nd3+]:CsPbI 2.2 Br 0.8 (CPN:CPVSK) hetero-system. CPN:CPVSK thin films have remarkable optical output for the prolonged duration of 28 days with the band gap energy spanning around 1.64–1.67 eV. These thin films have cubic phase with the 65.44 nm average crystallite size and these thin films have excellent surficial binding without any holes or cracks. CPN:CPVSK was employed as an active light trapping material inside perovskite solar cells processed and analyzed at ambient conditions. The temperature increment from 100 to 200 °C subsequently lead to improvement in efficiency from 6.91% to 15.5% with considerable improvement in fill factor. CPN:CPVSK effectively generated pure H 2 with the minor overpotential and Tafel slope values of 132 mV and 122.3 mV dec−1 while the O 2 production activity was unappreciable. CPN:CPVSK is a potential material for battery application with the excellent unit capacity of 354 mA H g−1 and lower R s of 0.44 Ω. Rare earth doped perovskite material is a sustainable, cost effective, and facile to prepare with the greater candidature for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel all‐sequential‐dip‐coated (SDC) deposited FA1MA1−yPbI3−xBrx perovskite films have been synthesized from an aqueous non‐halide lead precursor towards an environmentally benign, cost‐effective, and efficient approach for high‐performance perovskite solar cells (PrSCs). The mixed‐cationic FA1MA1−yPbI3−xBrx perovskite layers ensure the fractional incorporation of Br into the perovskite crystal lattice. The insertion of Br contents was regulated by modulating the FABr concentration into the FABr/MAI mixed‐cationic precursor solution. The incorporation of minor FABr into MAI helps to improve the surface coverage and crystallinity of the synthesized per‐ovskite layer in contrast to the other perovskite films prepared with higher FABr content under the same environment. The PrSCs with these FA1MA1−yPbI3−xBrx perovskite layers displayed good de‐vice performances and stability with a PCE of 11.1%. These outcomes reveal that the synthesis of FA1MA1−yPbI3−xBrx perovskite films with the SDC approach is more efficient because of the use of environmentally benign solvents for synthesizing lead and perovskite layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is significantly governed by the interface of perovskite layer. Therefore, a great deal of attention has been paid to the interface engineering of perovskite layer to improve the performance of PSC. In the meantime, KCl is one of the popular molecules being utilized for the interface treatment between SnO2 and perovskite. In this study, we investigate the effect of UV‐ozone (UVO) treatment of KCl interlayer on the photovoltaic performance. A device employing UVO‐treated KCl shows a higher power conversion efficiency mainly based on an increased open‐circuit voltage (VOC). Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicates that the UVO treatment induces a rearrangement of energy level at the interface, being responsible for the increase in VOC. Accordingly, an increased charge recombination resistance is evidenced by impedance spectroscopy owing to the inhibited recombination at the SnO2 and perovskite interface by the aid of the aligned energy level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDs), such as molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) and molybdenum selenide (MoSe2), have been presented as effective materials for extracting the generated holes from perovskite layers. Thus, the work function of MoS2 can be tuned in a wide range from 3.5 to 4.8 eV by adjusting the number of layers, chemical composition, elemental doping, surface functionalization, and surface states, depending on the synthetic approach. In this proposed work, we attempt to synthesize MoS2 nanoparticles (NPs) from bulk MoS2 using two steps: (1) initial exfoliation of bulk MoS2 into few-layer MoS2 by using curcumin-cholesteryl-derived organogels (BCC-ED) and curcumin solution in ethylene diamine (C-ED) under sonication; (2) ultrasonication of the subsequently obtained few-layer MoS2 at 60–80 °C, followed by washing of the above chemicals. The initial treatment with the BCC-ED/C-ED undergoes exfoliation of bulk MoS2 resulted in few-layer MoS2, as evidenced by the morphological analysis using SEM. Further thinning or reduction of the size of the few-layer MoS2 by prolonged ultrasonication at 60–80 °C, followed by repeated washing with DMF, resulted in uniform nanoparticles (MoS2 NPs) with a size of ~10 nm, as evidenced by morphological analysis. Since BCC-ED and C-ED produced similar results, C-ED was utilized for further production of NPs over BCC-ED owing to the ease of removal of curcumin from the MoS2 NPs. Utilization of the above synthesized MoS2 NPs as an ETL layer in the cell structure FTO/ETL/perovskite absorber/spiro-OMeTAD/Ag enhanced the efficiency significantly. The results showed that MoS2 NPs as an ETL exhibited a power conversion efficiency (PEC) of 11.46%, a short-circuit current density of 18.65 mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage of 1.05 V, and a fill factor of 58.66%, at the relative humidity of 70 ± 10% (open-air conditions) than that of the ED-treated MoS2 devices without curcumin. These results suggest that the synergistic effect of both curcumin and ED plays a critical role in obtaining high-quality MoS2 NPs, beneficial for efficient charge transport, lowering the crystal defect density/trap sites and reducing the charge recombination rate, thus, significantly enhancing the efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, perovskite solar cell (PSC) has gained a lot of attention due to its inexpensive cost of the fabrication process and great power conversion efficiency. The structure of perovskite contains an active layer sandwich between electron transport layer and hole transport layer (HTL). The contact layers in solar cell play a significant role in overall performance of solar cell. Many work have been reported on methylammonium lead halide s(MAPbX3) with various HTL. But the interface between MAPbX3 with organic CuInSe2 is not studied yet. In this study, we developed an interface between perovskite solar cell and inorganic hole transport layer, CuInSe2. In our proposed structure ITO/WS2/CH3NH3PbI3/CuInSe2/Au we used methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) as a halide absorber layer and evaluated various parameters: efficiency, open circuit voltage, short circuit current and fill factor using SCAPS-1D software. In our findings we observed that the inorganic HTL CuInSe2 and methylammonium iodide absorber shows best result. The obtained results for PSC are, efficiency (19.33%), open circuit voltage, (VOC) (0.88) V, short circuit current (JSC) (26.91) mA/cm2 and fill factor (80.85%).Thus the CuInSe2 HTL with halide absorber layer can be good candidate for perovskite solar cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We modeled the photovoltaic conversion of all‐perovskite (PVK) double‐ and triple‐junction solar modules to clarify the configurations suitable for the monolithically series‐interconnected structure, which offers high scalability by fully exploiting the advantages of the thin‐film modules over wafer‐based crystalline‐silicon modules. We first formulated the photovoltaic processes of single cells and modules by reference to previously reported data, next optimized the module structure parameters including the bandgaps of PVKs, cell widths, and transparent‐electrode thicknesses, and then evaluated the annually averaged conversion efficiencies (ηannual) defined by the ratio of the annual energy yield to the annual insolation in outdoor environments using a meteorological database. The double‐junction four‐terminal (2J‐4T) module overcomes the shortcomings involved in the two‐terminal module consisting of series‐connected top and bottom cells, providing higher ηannual and more options of the top‐cell bandgap; the latter allows us to select a more durable PVK composition. However, the dual output (four terminals) is practically a serious drawback. The double‐junction voltage‐matched (2J‐VM) configuration eliminates this drawback, that is, realizes the single output (two terminals) with taking over the advantages of 2J‐4T, and hence, 2J‐VM would be the most promising candidate. However, when the VM configuration is applied to the triple‐junction modules, the ohmic loss and optical loss in the transparent electrodes used for the three submodules are more detrimental. To mitigate this shortcoming, we proposed a new configuration of the triple‐junction series/parallel‐connecting voltage‐matched (3J‐SPVM) module. This uses only two substrates with securing high ηannual and other advantages of the VM configuration, which contributes to cost reduction. Consequently, 3J‐SPVM is potentially the most promising configuration for widespread use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide perovskite nanocrystals (HP NCs) based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted serious attention along with relatively unstable bulk HP‐based thin‐film solar cells aiming to make more efficient and stable PSCs. HP NCs have still limited employment in PSCs despite their inherent unique properties such as strong absorption and photoluminescence, controlled transport and charge‐carrier mobility, low defect density, solution processability, and compatibility with large‐scale deposition techniques suitable for PSCs. Nanostructuring of the perovskites offers other unique characteristics such as confinement effects. These exciting characteristics together with the exceptional tunability in their shape, composition, and functionalities make HP NCs promising for PVs applications. In order to develop efficient HP NCs PSCs, major focus lies on discussing the various synthesis approaches, optoelectrical behaviors of HP NCs, and optimized device architectures. In this context, this review article deals with various approaches to HP NCs synthesis, properties, current challenges, and factors affecting the performance of the NC‐based PSCs. Based on these discussions, perspectives on promising directions for effective utilization of HP NCs toward the improvement and commercialization of the exciting promising material‐based stable and efficient PSCs in the near future are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The free vibration analysis of a perovskite solar cell (PSC) within thermal environments is studied through a quasi-3D plate model. This model is designed to account for the stretching effects and non-uniform shear strains throughout the thickness. The PSC film is represented in the model as a thin laminated plate, comprising five distinct plies: ITO, PEDOT:PSS, perovskite, PCBM, and Au. A graphene platelets reinforced composite (GPLRC) substrate, made of Poly (methyl methacrylate), is assumed to be located under the noted five layers. The GPLRC substrate is conceptualized in the model as a porous foundation with finite depth. The foundation stiffnesses are determined using a modified Vlasov model, and the equivalent Young modulus of the foundation is evaluated using a modified Halpin–Tsai model, introducing the porosity coefficient. It is also considered that the material properties of GPLRC substrates exhibit temperature dependency. For the PSC with all edges simply supported, Navier solution method is applied to obtain the frequencies and associated mode numbers. Based on the results presented in this study, an increase in the porosity and thickness of the substrate can negatively impact the frequencies of the structure. However, natural frequencies experience almost no change if the temperature rises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiOx is one of the promising inorganic hole transporting materials in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs), however, its device efficiency and stability are still limited by the energy level mismatch, low intrinsic conductivity, high interface defect density, and complex active species. Herein, the use of an imide‐based donor–acceptor type semiconductor (BTF14) as the interlayer between perovskite and NiOx is proposed, which facilitates the hole extraction and transfer, reduces the defect density at interface and in perovskite film bulk, and further reduces the concentration of Ni>3+ species to stabilize the heterointerface. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of inverted PSCs can be significantly boosted from 22.11% of NiOx to 24.20% of NiOx/BTF14. Moreover, NiOx/BTF14 based devices also exhibit negligible hysteresis and excellent long‐term stability, with over 77% of their initial efficiency remaining after continuous operation at 60 °C for 1000 h under 1 sun illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]