Heterojunction-Depleted Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cells with Coarse-Grained B-γ-CsSnI3 Thin Films

Ning Wang, Yuanyuan Zhou, Ming Gang Ju, Hector F. Garces, Tao Ding, Shuping Pang, Xiao Cheng Zeng, Nitin P. Padture, Xiao Wei Sun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

273 Scopus citations

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been emerging as a breakthrough photovoltaic technology, holding unprecedented promise for low-cost, high-efficiency renewable electricity generation. However, potential toxicity associated with the state-of-the-art lead-containing PSCs has become a major concern. The past research in the development of lead-free PSCs has met with mixed success. Herein, the promise of coarse-grained B-γ-CsSnI3 perovskite thin films as light absorber for efficient lead-free PSCs is demonstrated. Thermally-driven solid-state coarsening of B-γ-CsSnI3 perovskite grains employed here is accompanied by an increase of tin-vacancy concentration in their crystal structure, as supported by first-principles calculations. The optimal device architecture for the efficient photovoltaic operation of these B-γ-CsSnI3 thin films is identified through exploration of several device architectures. Via modulation of the B-γ-CsSnI3 grain coarsening, together with the use of the optimal PSC architecture, planar heterojunction-depleted B-γ-CsSnI3 PSCs with power conversion efficiency up to 3.31% are achieved without the use of any additives. The demonstrated strategies provide guidelines and prospects for developing future high-performance lead-free PVs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1601130
JournalAdvanced Energy Materials
Volume6
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 21 2016

Keywords

  • CsSnI3
  • grain coarsening
  • heterojunction-depleted
  • lead-free
  • perovskite solar cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • General Materials Science

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