Grain Boundary Engineering of Halide Perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 Solar Cells with Photochemically Active Additives

Nastaran Faraji, Chuanjiang Qin, Toshinori Matsushima, Chihaya Adachi, Jan Seidel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the nanoscale effects of photochemically active additives of benzoquinone (BQ), hydroquinone (HQ), and tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) on grain boundaries in CH3NH3PbI3 solar cells. We employ scanning probe microscopy under light illumination, in particular Kelvin probe force microscopy, to study surface potential changes under laser light illumination. The recently found improvement in the efficiency of BQ added solar cells can be clearly seen in vanishing contact potential differences at grain boundaries under illumination, rendering the material more uniform under solar cell operating conditions. These effects are observed for BQ, but not for HQ and TCNQ. Our findings shed light onto halide perovskite materials and the functional additive design for improved solar cell performance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4817-4821
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume122
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 8 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Energy(all)
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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