Enhanced Photovoltaic Properties of Perovskite Solar Cells by Employing Bathocuproine/Hydrophobic Polymer Films as Hole-Blocking/Electron-Transporting Interfacial Layers

• Main Authors: Guan-Zhi Liu, Chi-Shiuan Du, Jeng-Yue Wu, Bo-Tau Liu, Tzong-Ming Wu, Chih-Feng Huang, Rong-Ho Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
• Series: Polymers
• Subjects: bathocuproine; methylammonium lead iodide; electron-transporting interfacial layer; perovskite solar cells
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/1/42

In this study, we improved the photovoltaic (PV) properties and storage stabilities of inverted perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) based on methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) by employing bathocuproine (BCP)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and BCP/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as hole-blocking and electron-transporting interfacial layers. The architecture of the PVSCs was indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate/MAPbI₃/[6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester/BCP based interfacial layer/Ag. The presence of PMMA and PVP affected the morphological stability of the BCP and MAPbI₃ layers. The storage-stability of the BCP/PMMA-based PVSCs was enhanced significantly relative to that of the corresponding unmodified BCP-based PVSC. Moreover, the PV performance of the BCP/PVP-based PVSCs was enhanced when compared with that of the unmodified BCP-based PVSC. Thus, incorporating hydrophobic polymers into BCP-based hole-blocking/electron-transporting interfacial layers can improve the PV performance and storage stability of PVSCs.