Influence of void-free perovskite capping layer on the charge recombination process in high performance CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells.

The stunning rise of methylammonium lead iodide perovskite material as a light harvesting material in recent years has drawn much attention in the photovoltaic community. Here, we investigated in detail the uniform and void-free perovskite capping layer in the mesoscopic perovskite devices and found it to play a critical role in determining device performance and charge recombination process. Compared to the rough surface with voids of the perovskite layer, surface of the perovskite capping layer obtained from sequential deposition process is much more uniform with less void formation and distribution within the TiO2 mesoscopic scaffold is more homogeneous, leading to much improved photovoltaic parameters of the devices. The impact of void free perovskite capping layer surface on the charge recombination processes within the mesoscopic perovskite solar cells is further scrutinized via charge extraction measurement. Modulation of precursor solution concentrations in order to further improve the perovskite layer surface morphology leads to higher efficiency and lower charge recombination rates. Inhibited charge recombination in these solar cells also matches with the higher charge density and slower photovoltage decay profiles measured.

Carbon nanotubes as an efficient hole collector for high voltage methylammonium lead bromide perovskite solar cells.

A high open circuit voltage (V(OC)) close to 1.4 V under AM 1.5, 100 mW cm(-2) conditions is achieved when carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are used as a hole conductor in methyl ammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) perovskite solar cells. Time-resolved photoluminescence and impedance spectroscopy investigations suggest that the observed high V(OC) is a result of the better charge extraction and lower recombination of the CNT hole conductor. Tandem solar cells with all perovskite absorbers are demonstrated with a MAPbBr3/CNT top cell and a MAPbI3 bottom cell, achieving a V(OC) of 2.24 V in series connection. The semitransparent and high voltage MAPbBr3/CNT solar cells show great potential for applications in solar cell windows, tandem solar cells and solar driven water splitting.

Silicon decorated with amorphous cobalt molybdenum sulfide catalyst as an efficient photocathode for solar hydrogen generation.

The construction of viable photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices for solar-driven water splitting can be achieved by first identifying an efficient independent photoanode for water oxidation and a photocathode for hydrogen generation. These two photoelectrodes then must be assembled with a proton exchange membrane within a complete coupled system. Here we report the preparation of a Si/a-CoMoSx hybrid photocathode which shows impressive performance (onset potential of 0.25 V vs RHE and photocurrent jsc of 17.5 mA cm(-2) at 0 V vs RHE) in pH 4.25 phosphate solution and under simulated AM 1.5 solar illumination. This performance is among the best reported for Si photocathodes decorated with noble-metal-free catalysts. The electrode preparation is scalable because it relies on a photoassisted electrodeposition process employing an available p-type Si electrode and [Co(MoS4)2](2-) precursor. Investigation of the mechanism of the Si/a-CoMoSx electrode revealed that under conditions of H2 photogeneration this bimetallic sulfide catalyst is highly efficient in extracting electrons from illuminated Si and subsequently in reducing protons into H2. The Si/a-CoMoSx photocathode is functional over a wide range of pH values, thus making it a promising candidate for the construction of a complete solar-driven water splitting PEC device.

Hole-transporting small molecules based on thiophene cores for high efficiency perovskite solar cells.

Two new electron-rich molecules, 2,3,4,5-tetra[4,4'-bis(methoxyphenyl)aminophen-4"-yl]-thiophene (H111) and 4,4',5,5'-tetra[4,4'-bis(methoxyphenyl)aminophen-4"-yl]-2,2'-bithiophene (H112), which contain thiophene cores with arylamine side groups, are reported. When used as the hole-transporting material (HTM) in perovskite-based solar cell devices, power conversion efficiencies of up to 15.4% under AM 1.5G solar simulation were obtained. This is the highest efficiency achieved with HTMs not composed of 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N'-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) and its isomers. Both HTMs, especially H111, have great potential to replace expensive spiro-OMeTAD given their much simpler and less expensive syntheses.

Laminated carbon nanotube networks for metal electrode-free efficient perovskite solar cells.

Organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cells were fabricated by laminating films of a carbon nanotube (CNT) network onto a CH3NH3PbI3 substrate as a hole collector, bypassing the energy-consuming vacuum process of metal deposition. In the absence of an organic hole-transporting material and metal contact, CH3NH3PbI3 and CNTs formed a solar cell with an efficiency of up to 6.87%. The CH3NH3PbI3/CNTs solar cells were semitransparent and showed photovoltaic output with dual side illuminations due to the transparency of the CNT electrode. Adding spiro-OMeTAD to the CNT network forms a composite electrode that improved the efficiency to 9.90% due to the enhanced hole extraction and reduced recombination in solar cells. The interfacial charge transfer and transport in solar cells were investigated through photoluminescence and impedance measurements. The flexible and transparent CNT network film shows great potential for realizing flexible and semitransparent perovskite solar cells.

A simple 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene based hole-transporting material for perovskite solar cells.

We report a novel electron-rich molecule based on 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (H101). When used as the hole-transporting layer in a perovskite-based solar cell, the power-conversion efficiency reached 13.8 % under AM 1.5G solar simulation. This result is comparable with that obtained using the well-known hole transporting material 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD). This is the first heterocycle-containing material achieving >10 % efficiency in such devices, and has great potential to replace the expensive spiro-OMeTAD given its much simpler and cheaper synthesis.