nanoGe - HOPV15 - Intrinsic thermal instability of the organometal halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3-xClx - a challenge for its photovoltaic application

Intrinsic thermal instability of the organometal halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3-xClx - a challenge for its photovoltaic application

Jan D'Haen^a, Anitha Ethirajan^a, Lien D'Olieslaeger^a, Aslihan Babayigit^a, Hans-Gerd Boyen^a, Jeroen Drijkoningen^a, Bert Conings^a, Jo Verbeeck^b, Nicolas Gauquelin^b, Jean Manca^c

^aInstitute for Materials Research (IMO), Hasselt University, Wetenschapspark 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium

^bUniversity of Antwerp, Electron Microscopy for Materials Research, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium

^cHasselt University, X-lab, Agoralaan Building D, Diepenbeek, 3590, Belgium

International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics
Proceedings of International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics 2015 (HOPV15)

Roma, Italy, 2015 May 11th - 13th

Organizer: Filippo De Angelis

Poster, Bert Conings, 356
Publication date: 5th February 2015

Solar cells based on organo-metal halide perovskites represent the fastest developing photovoltaic technology so far, and are thus major contestants in the quest for inexpensive and high-efficiency photovoltaics.¹ Two of the three principal requirements for the breakthrough of this technology are already fulfilled: (i) the starting products and cell production process are very inexpensive and (ii) with the current record cell efficiency exceeding 20%,²perovskites exhibit high performance that is not far away from challenging silicon. To meet the third requirement, however, is likely the most challenging: the guarantee of a decent device lifetime that is, at least, comparable with existing established technologies. Despite the obvious urgency of this aspect, the vast majority of reports on perovskite solar cells have been focusing on efficiency enhancement, whereas the degradation mechanisms are far from being clarified. Yet, these best performing perovskites are highly sensitive to humidity due to the presence of an alkylammonium cation in the crystal matrix. In addition, considering the soft matter character of the perovskite, there is no clear picture of its ability to withstand typical outdoor operating temperatures (which are very similar to the formation temperature of the perovskite). To bring more clarity into these issues, this contribution focuses on the degradation mechanisms of the so far most successful CH₃NH₃PbI_3-xCl_x perovskite under the influence of elevated temperature (85°C) in different atmospheres. First of all, the chemical composition of degraded perovskites is investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In parallel, the perovskite's crystal structure and its optical properties are investigated. Finally, the morphology and related electrical properties of degraded perovskite layers are investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy (C-AFM) and High-Angle Annular Dark-Field imaging (HAADF). This powerful combination of characterization techniques ultimately allows to pinpoint some of the main culprits responsible for the decay of the perovskite.

[1] Green, M. A.; Ho-Baillie, A.; Snaith, H. J. The Emergence of Perovskite Solar Cells. Nat. Photonics 2014, 8, 506-514. [2] http://www.nrel.gov/ncpv/images/efficiency_chart.jpg ; retrieved 09.02.2015

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