Multi-Hydrogen-Bond Co-SAMs Elevate Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells to 23.02%, Reaching 30.61% in Tandem

ACS Photonics USA

Overview

Researchers have achieved highly efficient and stable wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells through a novel co-assembled monolayer (Co-SAM) strategy leveraging multiple hydrogen bonds. This approach precisely controls the NiOx/perovskite interface, drastically reducing non-radiative recombination and preventing degradation, leading to a standalone device efficiency of 23.02%. When integrated into a four-terminal perovskite/silicon tandem, the power conversion efficiency reached an unprecedented 30.61%.

In Depth

Background and Context

Perovskite solar cells are garnering significant attention as a promising next-generation photovoltaic technology, thanks to their high theoretical efficiency and potential for low-cost manufacturing. However, wide-bandgap perovskite materials, crucial for tandem architectures, have historically struggled with both efficiency and long-term stability. Tandem solar cells, particularly those combining perovskite with silicon, are leading contenders for surpassing the efficiency limits of single-junction devices, yet their overall performance hinges critically on the efficacy of the wide-bandgap perovskite top cell. The innovative Co-SAM strategy presented here dramatically enhances the performance of these wide-bandgap perovskites, marking a substantial breakthrough for the practical deployment of high-efficiency tandem solar cells.

Key Findings

This study unveils the successful development of highly efficient and stable wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells, facilitated by a novel strategy employing co-assembled monolayers (Co-SAMs) mediated by multiple hydrogen bonds. The Co-SAM-based inverted 1.68 eV perovskite solar cell achieved a record-breaking champion efficiency of 23.02%. Furthermore, when integrated into a four-terminal perovskite/silicon tandem configuration, this technology demonstrated an extraordinary power conversion efficiency of 30.61%.

Technical Details

In high-efficiency perovskite solar cells, particularly wide-bandgap perovskites designed for the top cell in tandem structures, the integrity of the buried NiOₓ (nickel oxide)/perovskite interface is paramount for both performance and stability. The Co-SAM strategy precisely engineered in this research allows for atomic-level control over this critical interface, leveraging multiple hydrogen bonding interactions. These Co-SAMs effectively passivate detrimental defect sites at the interface, thereby substantially mitigating non-radiative recombination losses. Crucially, they also suppress interface-induced perovskite degradation, leading to a marked improvement in the long-term stability of the devices. The standalone inverted 1.68 eV perovskite solar cell, utilizing this approach, achieved a near-certified efficiency of 23.02% on a small active area of 0.042 cm². The integration of this high-performance top cell with a conventional silicon bottom cell in a four-terminal tandem architecture enabled a significantly broader utilization of the solar spectrum, culminating in an exceptional overall power conversion efficiency of 30.61%.

Strategic Significance and Outlook

The achievement of 30.61% tandem efficiency unequivocally positions perovskite solar cell technology as a formidable contender, capable of significantly outperforming current state-of-the-art photovoltaic technologies. This Co-SAM strategy offers a highly practical and scalable method for simultaneously enhancing the efficiency and stability of wide-bandgap perovskites, which will undoubtedly accelerate the commercialization pathway for perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. Future research endeavors are anticipated to concentrate on further optimizing the Co-SAM architecture, scaling up active device areas, and driving down manufacturing costs. Successful market introduction of this technology promises to dramatically improve the cost-efficiency of solar power generation, thereby serving as a powerful catalyst for the widespread global adoption of clean energy solutions.

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