Improved Photovoltaic Performance of Inverted Two-Dimensional Perovskite Solar Cells via a Simple Molecular Bridge on Buried Interface

Abstract

NiO x -based two-dimensional perovskite solar cells (2D-PSCs) have the advantages of low fabrication temperature, suitable energy level matching, suppressed hysteresis, and superior stability, while the poor interfacial contacts between NiO x and perovskite layers limit the perovskite film growth and charge transfer. Herein, a simple molecule, urea, was used as a molecular modifier to form bifacial passivation on the buried interface of NiO x /perovskite, resulting in better interfacial contact and efficient bifacial passivation. We demonstrated that efficient bifacial passivation mainly comes from strong interactions between urea and NiO x or perovskite, which make urea a molecular bridge for smoother charge transfer. Moreover, urea can regulate the ratio of Ni 3+ /Ni 2+ , therefore boosting the conductivity of NiO x , and adjust the morphology of the NiO x film for better 2D-perovskite crystal growth. Besides, urea also passivates the bifacial defect states of both NiO x and perovskite film, yielding reduced defect density of the perovskite film and superior charge transfer on the buried interface. Consequently, inverted 2D-PSCs with urea modification proved significant improvements in short-circuit current density and fill factor, resulting in improved power conversion efficiency from 14.64 to 16.84% with better stability in air.