Solvent engineering based on triethylenetetramine (TETA) for perovskite solar cells processed in ambient-air

Abstract

Solvent engineering as a crucial factor in determining the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells has attracted much attention in recent years. Herein, we treat PbI₂ and perovskite films with isopropyl alcohol, acetone, diethyl ether and dichloromethane, as standard solvents, in a modified two-step method. Meanwhile, triethylenetetramine (TETA) is introduced as a new reagent in solvent engineering for perovskite solar cell devices. Structural, optical and photovoltaic characteristics of the TETA-treated perovskite films are compared with those of the ones treated with different solvents. A shiny, pinhole-free and full-coverage texture with sufficiently large grain sizes is obtained in the presence of TETA, suggesting an efficient solvent engineering for perovskite layers. Moreover, the results reveal that residual PbI₂ is completely removed and converted to a crystalline perovskite film. Amongst the PSC devices engineered with various solvents, the TETA-treated film exhibits a 55% increase in photoconversion efficiency compared to the control device with no solvent engineering.