Prof Zhang Qinghongs team at Donghua University and Wu Tianhao AM from Institute of Carbon Neutral Energy Kyushu University Japan High efficiency perovskite solar cells for air treatment and full life cycle management

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted widespread attention due to their high photoelectric conversion efficiency. However, challenges remain throughout their lifecycle, including preparation, operation, stability, and lead toxicity. For example, PSCs are susceptible to adverse degradation under harsh external stimuli such as high humidity, strong light, and voltage.

To address these challenges, Professor Zhang Qinghong's team and Wu Tianhao et al. from Kyushu University in Japan analyzed the preparation and lifespan of perovskites, from their operational lifespan to their end-of-life. To achieve full lifecycle regulation, a bio-derived chitin-based polymer was developed. Extracted from crustaceans, it contains amide and hydroxyl groups. It is a natural, one-dimensional, and highly flexible biomaterial. The introduction of chitin induces a mesoporous PbI₂ film, accelerating the downward diffusion of organic salt solutions and the crystallization of the perovskite, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of corrosion from ambient moisture. The resulting air-handling PSCs achieve an efficiency of up to 25.18%, exhibit a wide preparation window, and exhibit excellent stability to harsh environments and mechanical stressors. Furthermore, the linear chitin polymer acts as a suture between the particles. When subjected to T80 > 1200 h (damp-heat aging) and >32 light/dark cycles, the particle-sutured device exhibits suppressed degradation and fatigue.

The chitin polymer's physical barrier and chemical chelation significantly inhibit lead leakage, further contributing to low lead pollution and manufacturing costs. This work paves the way for the renewable fabrication of efficient, stable, and sustainable perovskite photovoltaic cells, promoting the sustainable development of perovskite optoelectronics technology.

Scheme 1. Schematic illustration of full lifecycle management of PSCs from preparation and operation to disposal.

Figure 1. a) Chemical structure and corresponding electrostatic potential maps of chitin. b) TEM images of the target perovskite film. c) FTIR spectra of chitin and chitin-PbI2 mixtures. d) High-resolution XPS spectra of Pb 4f and I 3d for the perovskite film. SEM images of e) PbI2 and f) perovskite films.g) GIWAXS images and h) in situ XRD patterns of perovskite films under thermal annealing. DLS particle size distribution of i) control and j) target fresh and aged PbI2 precursor inks. UV–vis spectra of k) control and l) target fresh and aged organic salt solution (The inset images are the color change of organic solution with extended aging time). m) 1H NMR spectra of organic salt solution aged for different times. n) Evolution of left FA+ and generated MFA+ in the above-aged organic salt inks.

Figure 2. Charge density difference profiles of the FAPbI3 slabs with a) PbI and b) VI defects after grain stitching, where the blue and yellow areas represent the electron depletion and accumulation, respectively. Formation energy of c) PbI and d) VI defects by DFT calculations. DOS curves of the perovskite with e) PbI and f) VI defects before and after grain stitching. g–j) Pseudo-contour plots and delay time-dependent transient absorption spectroscopy of the control and target perovskite film after pump excitation at 400 nm. k) Normalized decay kinetic curves probed at 810 nm of TA spectra. l) Schematic diagrams of possible exciton trapping and recombination processes.

Figure 3. a) J–V curves of champion PSCs. b) Summary of recent works on the air-prepared PSCs. c) Statistical performance of rigid devices. d) EQE spectra and e) steady-state power outputs of the champion device. f) SCLC tests of the device based on the FTO/Perovskite/Au structure. g) tDOS curves, h) the dependence of the Voc on light intensity, and i) Mott–Schottky curves of control and target PSCs. j) Pseudo-color maps of temperature-dependent PL spectra of perovskite films excited at 480 nm. KPFM images of k) control and l) target perovskite films.

Figure 4. a) The ideal interaction model of the H2O molecule with Pb2+, the smallest unit of polymers with Pb2+, and the smallest unit of polymers with H2O molecule. TOF-SIMS depth profiles of the aged b) control and c) target PSCs placed in the humid air for 10 days. d) Photographs of the control and target device immersed in DI water. e) Evolution of Pb2+ concentration variation in the DI water soaked with control and target devices at room temperature and 60 °C. f) Evaluating lead pollution level of broken waste PSCs on the soil according to Igeo. g) Schematic illustration of lead recycling and reuse in PSCs. h) XRD patterns of fresh and recycled PbI2 powder. i) J–V curves of control and target PSCs prepared by recycled PbI2 precursors.


Source: DOI: 10.1002/adma.202411982

https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202411982