Proceedings of MATSUS23 & Sustainable Technology Forum València (STECH23) (MATSUS23)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.matsus.2023.012
Publication date: 22nd December 2022
Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have received tremendous research attention over the past decade for use in optoelectronic applications such as solar cells and photodetectors. Despite their excellent optoelectronic properties, their commercialization is hindered by their limited intrinsic stability. A prime route to obtain more stable perovskite materials is the addition of a large organic ammonium cation to form quasi-2D perovskites.[1-2]
We employ a functionalized benzothienobenzothiophene (BTBT) organic cation either as an additive in the precursor solution to obtain a quasi-2D perovskite for use in photodetectors[1], or as an interlayer in perovskite solar cells.
The BTBT cation was added to a CsPbI3 precursor solution to obtain a n = 2 quasi-2D perovskite film. We compared the stability and performance of this film to that of a state-of-the-art (BA)2CsPb2I7 (n = 2) film. While the (BA)2CsPb2I7 film starts to degrade at 130 °C, the thermal stability of the film containing the BTBT cation is significantly enhanced to 230 °C. Furthermore, while the (BA)2CsPb2I7 film degrades into (BA)2PbI4 and other compounds after 1 day of storage in air at 77% relative humidity, the film containing the BTBT cation shows excellent resistance against humidity, with no apparent degradation after 1 year of storage at high relative humidity. We fabricated planar photodetectors using both films. The specific detectivity of the photodetectors with films containing our tailored cation is similar in magnitude compared to those containing the state-of-the-art (BA)2CsPb2I7 films. In summary, we prepared a quasi-2D perovskite with a similar optoelectronic performance as the literature reference but with significantly enhanced stability.
The same BTBT cation was also used as an interlayer in a solar cell between a NiOx hole-transporting layer and a triple-cation 3D perovskite leading to an enhanced lifetime of photo-generated charge carriers based on TRPL measurements. Furthermore, a significant VOC improvement is achieved in solar cells leading to a higher power conversion efficiency. The moisture stability of the solar cells was enhanced with the presence of the interlayer.
The Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) is acknowledged for the funding of the SBO project PROCEED (S002019N) and the senior FWO research project G043320N. This study was supported by the Special Research Fund (BOF) of Hasselt University (BOF22PD01).