Design and Application of Organic Electron Transport Layers for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Photovoltaics

Abstract

With the growing demand for clean energy and the limitations of traditional photovoltaic technologies, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a promising next-generation photovoltaic option due to their high efficiency and low-cost fabrication. However, inorganic electron transport layers (ETLs) face challenges such as high-temperature processing requirements and poor interface compatibility, restricting the further development of PSCs. This review systematically summarizes the research progress of five types of organic ETLs (fullerenes and their derivatives, aromatic imide derivatives, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polymer-based materials, and organic-inorganic hybrids) in PSCs, focusing on molecular structure design, optoelectronic properties, and device performance regulation. The analysis of structure-performance relationships and existing challenges (e.g., high cost, insufficient stability, and poor large-area film formation) provides insights for optimizing organic ETLs, which is of great significance for promoting the commercialization of high-efficiency, stable, and low-cost PSCs.