Stable and low-cost mesoscopic CH3NH3PbI2 Br perovskite solar cells by using a thin poly(3-hexylthiophene) layer as a hole transporter

Abstract

Mesoscopic perovskite solar cells using stable CH3 NH3 PbI2 Br as a light absorber and low-cost poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as hole-transporting layer were fabricated, and a power conversion efficiency of 6.64 % was achieved. The partial substitution of iodine with bromine in the perovskite led to remarkably prolonged charge carrier lifetime. Meanwhile, the replacement of conventional thick spiro-MeOTAD layer with a thin P3HT layer has significantly reduced the fabrication cost. The solar cells retained their photovoltaic performance well when they were exposed to air without any encapsulation, presenting a favorable stability. The combination of CH3 NH3 PbI2 Br and P3HT may render a practical and cost-effective solid-state photovoltaic system. The superior stability of CH3 NH3 PbI2 Br is also promising for other photoconversion applications.

Keywords: hole-transporting materials; lead; low cost; perovskite; solid-state solar cells; stability; thiophenes.