Managing Lead Leakage in Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells with Phosphate Interlayers

Abstract

Lead leakage from perovskite solar cells (PSCs) leads to device failure and environment contamination. Here, these issues are solved with a sodium phosphate (Na3PO4)‐modified tin(IV) dioxide (SnO2) layer that simultaneously boosts the device performance and captures most of dissolved lead in water. Phosphate incorporation improves charge transfers and passivates the buried perovskite interface, leading to highly improved device efficiency up to 23% with negligible hysteresis. More importantly, the phosphatized SnO2 layer shows high lead‐adsorption capacity with a sequestration efficiency of 79.6% due to the numerous anchor sites of oxygen lone pairs, converting dissolved lead into insoluble compounds in water. This study presents a facile protocol of efficient and sustainable perovskite photovoltaics upon future commercialization.

Sustainable and environmentally viable perovskite solar cells

“…On the other hand, Chen et al modified the SnO 2 layer using sodium phosphate (Na 3 PO 4 ) to achieve a higher PCE of 23.06% compared to 20.39% for the control device. 93 Na 3 PO 4 passivated Sn dangling bonds in the SnO 2 layer by forming Sn O P bonds and modifying the energy level alignment to improve photogenerated electron extraction. When the device was immersed in DI water for 30 min, the Pb concentration of the device without Na 3 PO 4 reached a maximum value of 1 ppm, whereas the concentration of the modified device was $0.2 ppm.…”

“…Consequently, the ZrL 3 based device showed a highly suppressed Pb leakage in acidic water. On the other hand, Chen et al modified the SnO 2 layer using sodium phosphate (Na 3 PO 4 ) to achieve a higher PCE of 23.06% compared to 20.39% for the control device 93 . Na 3 PO 4 passivated Sn dangling bonds in the SnO 2 layer by forming SnOP bonds and modifying the energy level alignment to improve photo‐generated electron extraction.…”

Mitigating Potential Lead Leakage Risk of Perovskite Solar Cells by Device Architecture Engineering from Exterior to Interior

“…150 Similarly, Chen et al reduced Pb leakage by preparing a sodium phosphate (Na 3 PO 4 ) modifiedSnO 2 layer. 151 The phosphoric acid group can bind tightly with soluble Pb ions in water and convert into insoluble matter (Figure 12b). This new ETL shows high lead adsorption capacity with a chelation efficiency of 79.6% (Figure 12d).…”

“…Copyright 2020 Springer Nature. (b,d) Reprinted with permission from ref . Copyright 2022 Wiley-VCH.…”

“…Zhang et al mixed amino trimethylenephosphonic acid (ATMP) and KOH (ATMP-K) and incorporated it into SnO 2 precursor solution to significantly reduce Pb leakage . Similarly, Chen et al reduced Pb leakage by preparing a sodium phosphate (Na 3 PO 4 ) modifiedSnO 2 layer . The phosphoric acid group can bind tightly with soluble Pb ions in water and convert into insoluble matter (Figure b).…”