A multi-probe investigation of perovskite thin film formation during spin-coating

Aram Amassian^a, Taesoo Kim^a, Kui Zhao^a, Maged Abdelsamie^a, Rahim Munir^a, Detlef Smilgies^b

^aKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) - Saudi Arabia, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

^bCornell University, Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), Wilson Laboratory Ithaca, NY 14853, USA, Ithaca, United States

International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics
Proceedings of International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics 2015 (HOPV15)

Roma, Italy, 2015 May 11th - 13th

Organizer: Filippo De Angelis

Oral, Rahim Munir, presentation 292
Publication date: 5th February 2015

The efficiency of lead iodide halide perovskite solar cells has risen dizzyingly fast in recent years. The solution-to-solid phase transformation process leading to the formation of the light harvesting perovskite layer is believed to be of great importance and has deservedly been the subject of several investigations looking at comparing, ex situ, the influence of processing conditions, formulations, and surface modifications. Yet, despite this great interest the phase transformation process has not been investigated in situ and in real time during the actual solution process (e.g., spin-coating, blade-coating or spray-coating) owing to significant technical challenges in doing so. Consequently, many questions remain unanswered with respect to the mechanisms of solution-to-solid phase transformation and the impact of such parameters as processing conditions, formulations, casting environment, surface termination and annealing conditions. We demonstrate for the first time the outcome of time-resolved in situ grazing incidence wide angle x-ray scattering (GIWAXS) measurements performed during spin-coating and subsequent thermal annealing of perovskite thin films. The GIWAXS measurements are complemented by in situ optical reflectometry and transmission measurements performed during spin-coating, making it possible to estimate the solvent evaporation rate and the time-evolution of solution concentration and link the onset of nucleation and growth of perovskite phases to the solution drying process and to the substrate composition. We will discuss our findings with respect to perovskite thin film formation kinetics and mechanisms for different halides (chlorine, bromine and iodine), solution compositions, and substrate surfaces.

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