Dye Engineered Perovskite Solar Cells under Accelerated Thermal Stress and Prolonged Light Exposure

• Published in: ChemistrySelect (Weinheim) Vol. 5; no. 15; pp. 4454 - 4462
• Main Authors: Zaky, Alaa A., Balis, Nikolaos, Gkini, Konstantina, Athanasekou, Chrysoula, Kaltzoglou, Andreas, Stergiopoulos, Thomas, Falaras, Polycarpos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 23.04.2020
• Subjects: dyes/pigments; perovskite phases; perovskite solar cells; stability enhancement; titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 2365-6549; 2365-6549
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.202000771

Herein, the thermal and light stability enhancement of planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on the approach of dye‐sensitization of the titania compact layer with the triphenylamine‐based metal‐free organic (E)‐3‐(5‐(4‐(bis(2′,4′‐dibutoxy‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐yl) amino) phenyl) thiophen‐2‐yl)‐2‐cyanoacrylic acid (D35) dye is reported. The D35 molecule is chemically adsorbed via a bidentate anchor group upon the TiO2 underlayer. This enhances the power conversion efficiency of PSCs due to its well‐established versatile role, offering facilitation of electron charge transfer to the anode while favoring the growth of robust and homogenous perovskite layers. However, its influence in the PSC performance seems to expand further. The stability experiments showed an enhanced endurance for the devices after the insertion of D35, not only in shelf‐shield conditions but also after accelerated thermal tests and prolonged light exposure. This study confirms the plethoric role of dye sensitization strategy and its advantages to interfacial engineering via organic chromophores towards efficient and stable PSCs. Planar perovskite solar cells were fabricated incorporating a hydrophobic D35‐sensitized titania (TiO2) layer as the electron transporter. The dye sensitization approach besides improving power conversion efficiency (PCE), offers also high thermal and light stability to the corresponding solar cells. Thus, it confirms its role as a multifunctional interface engineering strategy with promising perspectives in the relevant field.