Researchers at China's Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HIPS), University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Hainan University, Germany's IEK5-Photovoltaics and University of Duisburg-Essen have proposed a strategy to enhance the performance of perovskite solar cells through the creation of a robust connection between different layers of the solar cell, using a molecular bridge made of ammonium cations.
The term 'fill factor' (FF) represents the capacity of a solar cell to deliver maximum current under optimal conditions. As limitations associated with FF still pose challenges, any advancements in this area are highly sought after. To address these limitations, the team focused on optimizing the bottom interface of the solar cell. They developed a strategy to redistribute localized electrostatic potential by employing ammonium cations as a molecular bridge with various degrees of substitution.
The key to this strategy lies in creating a strong connection between different layers of the solar cell using a molecular bridge made of ammonium cations. The researchers used ammonium cations with different degrees of substitution as the molecular bridge to create a robust connection between layers.
Theoretical analyses revealed that the molecular bridge molecules helped flatten the localized potential and establish efficient contacts between layers. Experimental results showed that the robust bottom interface improved the extraction and transport of photo-generated carriers, enhancing overall device performance.
The interfacial molecular bridge strategy presented in this work could potentially offer an optimization route for top-performing perovskite solar cells and advance them towards commercialization. By addressing the limitations associated with the FF, this research contributes to the ongoing development of high-performance perovskite solar cells and their potential widespread use in clean energy generation.
