Issue 11, 2024

Alleviating nanostructural phase impurities enhances the optoelectronic properties, device performance and stability of cesium-formamidinium metal–halide perovskites

Abstract

The technique of alloying FA+ with Cs+ is often used to promote structural stabilization of the desirable α-FAPbI3 phase in halide perovskite devices. However, the precise mechanisms by which these alloying approaches improve the optoelectronic quality and enhance the stability have remained elusive. In this study, we advance that understanding by investigating the effect of cationic alloying in CsxFA1−xPbI3 perovskite thin-films and solar-cell devices. Selected-area electron diffraction patterns combined with microwave conductivity measurements reveal that fine Cs+ tuning (Cs0.15FA0.85PbI3) leads to a minimization of stacking faults and an increase in the photoconductivity of the perovskite films. Ultra-sensitive external quantum efficiency, kelvin-probe force microscopy and photoluminescence quantum yield measurements demonstrate similar Urbach energy values, comparable surface potential fluctuations and marginal impact on radiative emission yields, respectively, irrespective of Cs content. Despite this, these nanoscopic defects appear to have a detrimental impact on inter-grains’/domains’ carrier transport, as evidenced by conductive-atomic force microscopy and corroborated by drastically reduced solar cell performance. Importantly, encapsulated Cs0.15FA0.85PbI3 devices show robust operational stability retaining 85% of the initial steady-state power conversion efficiency for 1400 hours under continuous 1 sun illumination at 35 °C, in open-circuit conditions. Our findings provide nuance to the famous defect tolerance of halide perovskites while providing solid evidence about the detrimental impact of these subtle structural imperfections on the long-term operational stability.

Graphical abstract: Alleviating nanostructural phase impurities enhances the optoelectronic properties, device performance and stability of cesium-formamidinium metal–halide perovskites

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 фев 2024
Accepted
26 апр 2024
First published
09 май 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Energy Environ. Sci., 2024,17, 3832-3847

Alleviating nanostructural phase impurities enhances the optoelectronic properties, device performance and stability of cesium-formamidinium metal–halide perovskites

M. Othman, Q. Jeangros, D. A. Jacobs, M. H. Futscher, S. Zeiske, A. Armin, A. Jaffrès, A. G. Kuba, D. Chernyshov, S. Jenatsch, S. Züfle, B. Ruhstaller, S. Tabean, T. Wirtz, S. Eswara, J. Zhao, T. J. Savenije, C. Ballif, C. M. Wolff and A. Hessler-Wyser, Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, 17, 3832 DOI: 10.1039/D4EE00901K

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