Perovskite solar cell stability boosted by resonant molecule design
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Researchers designed a self-assembly monolayer with a donor-acceptor-donor resonant structure that strengthens the anchoring bond to indium tin oxide, preventing desorption under operational stress. The device achieved a certified power conversion efficiency of 27.69% on small cells and maintained negligible decay after 1,080 hours of operation at 85°C.
The Molecular Design
The new SAM features a donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) resonant structure that increases negative charge density at the acceptor anchoring group. This strengthens the phosphonic acid-ITO bond, preventing SAM desorption during operation. The approach addresses a key stability challenge in perovskite solar cells, where limited intrinsic bonding strength compromises charge extraction under thermal and light stress.
Performance Metrics
Devices using the D-A-D resonant SAM achieved certified power conversion efficiencies of 27.69% on 0.063 cm² cells and 23.63% on 15.64 cm² modules. Flexible substrates also reached 26.64% efficiency. Under maximum-power-point tracking at 85±5°C for 1,080 hours, the device showed negligible decay, and retained >93% efficiency after 1,080 hours under metal halide lamp illumination. It also survived 720 thermal cycles between -40°C and 85°C with >98% retention.
Broader Implications
The resonant molecular design demonstrates universality across rigid and flexible substrates, offering a pathway to stable, high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. The work was published in Nature by Wu, Kou, Li et al. Further research may explore scaling the approach to larger modules and commercial production.
What's Next
The research team plans to test the D-A-D SAM design on larger-area modules and under longer operational lifetimes. It remains unclear whether the approach can be cost-effectively integrated into commercial manufacturing processes.
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Perovskite solar cell stability boosted by resonant molecule design