Ultrathin plasma polymer passivation of perovskite solar cells for improved stability and reproducibility

TL;DR

This paper introduces an ultrathin plasma polymer passivation technique for perovskite solar cells that enhances their stability and reproducibility without additional encapsulation, achieving over 80% efficiency retention after 1000 hours in ambient conditions.

Contribution

The study presents a solvent-free plasma polymer passivation method that improves stability, performance, and reproducibility of perovskite solar cells, facilitating scalable manufacturing.

Findings

Cells retain >80% efficiency after 1000 hours in ambient conditions.

Passivation improves perovskite coverage on mesoporous scaffolds.

Enhanced device stability and reproducibility without additional encapsulation.

Abstract

Despite the youthfulness of hybrid halide perovskite solar cells, their efficiencies are currently comparable to commercial silicon and have surpassed quantum-dots solar cells. Yet, the scalability of these devices is a challenge due to their low reproducibility and stability under environmental conditions. However, the methods reported to date to tackle such issues recurrently involve the use of solvent methods that would further complicate their transfer to industry. Herein we present a reliable alternative relaying in the implementation of an ultrathin plasma polymer as passivation interface between the electron transport material and the hybrid perovskite layer. Such nanoengineering interface provides solar devices with increased long-term stability under ambient conditions. Thus, without consideringr any additional encapsulation step, the cells retain more than 80 % of their efficiency after being exposed to the ambient atmosphere for more than 1000 h. Moreover, this plasma polymer passivation strategy significantly improves the coverage of the mesoporous scaffold by the perovskite layer, providing the solar cells with enhanced performance as well as improved reproducibility.