Thermally driven self-healing efficient flexible perovskite solar cells.

The brittleness of perovskite (PVK) film restrains the development and application of the flexible perovskite solar cells (FPSCs). We utilize the polyurethane elastomers with disulfide bonds (PUDS) as a self-healing polymer to construct self-healing FPSCs and strengthen the self-healed perovskite film by the phase-locked state. The PUDS efficiently enhances the flexibility and self-healing properties of FPSCs. The champion efficiencies of MAPbI 3 on rigid and flexible substrates with PUDS are 20.30% and 17.19%, respectively. Importantly, the efficiency of cracked FPSC after thermal self-healing (80 °C) has been recovered from 12% (Broken: 2.06%) of the initial efficiency (17.19%) to 88% (Recovery: 15.12%). Besides, the efficiency of FPSC with PUDS maintains 95% of the initial value after 3000 h stored in glove box. This strategy provides an effective approach for developing flexible electronics. [Display omitted] • Polyurethane with disulfide bonds achieve the self-healing flexible perovskite solar cells by the phase-locked dynamic bonds. • The dynamic bonds of PUDS transform to the phase-locked state strengthening the self-healed perovskite film. • The efficiency of the cracked FPSC recovers from 12% (Broken: 2.06%) to 88% (Recovery: 15.12%) of the initial efficiency (17.19%) after the multiple bending-heal. • The FPSC with PUDS maintains 84% of the initial PCE after 4000 bending cycles at the radius of 3 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]