Proceedings of International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics (HOPV24)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.hopv.2024.036
Publication date: 6th February 2024
Recently perovskite semiconductors have triggered a revolution in solar cell research, however, the actual contribution of mobile ions to the total degradation loss remains poorly understood. Here, we reveal that the initial degradation of perovskite solar cells is largely the result of mobile ion-induced internal field screening - a phenomenon that has been poorly addressed in relation to degradation. The increased field screening leads to a decrease in the steady-state efficiency, often due to a large reduction in current density, while the efficiency at high scan speeds (>1000 V/s) where the ions are immobilized is much less affected. We also show that interfacial recombination does not increase upon aging, yet the open-circuit voltage decreases due to an increase in the mobile ion density upon aging. This work reveals a key degradation mechanism before chemical or extrinsic mechanical degradation effects manifest, and it highlights the critical role mobile ions play therein.