Self assembled monolayer boosts efficiency of lead free tin perovskite photo voltaic cells
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Aug 06, 2025
Perovskite semiconductors provide promising potential for photo voltaic vitality attributable to their skinny, versatile construction, excessive effectivity, and low manufacturing prices. Nonetheless, widespread commercialization stays restricted by two essential elements: long-term stability and the presence of poisonous lead in high-performing variants.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) are investigating tin-based perovskite photo voltaic cells as a safer, extra steady various. These lead-free cells exhibit distinctive electro-optical traits excellent for tandem and triple-junction photo voltaic cells, though their effectivity nonetheless lags behind lead-containing counterparts.
A major bottleneck lies within the cost transport layer. Typical tin perovskite photo voltaic cells depend on PEDOT:PSS for the bottom contact layer, a cloth that introduces inefficiencies and provides complexity to fabrication. Whereas self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have set new effectivity data in lead-based perovskites, their utility in tin variants has up to now underperformed.
Principal investigator Dr. Artem Musiienko and collaborators recognized the issue utilizing density purposeful concept, which confirmed poor interface alignment between the MeO-2PACz SAM and the tin perovskite lattice. This mismatch led to vital recombination losses.
To deal with this, the workforce explored various SAMs and recognized phenothiazine-based Th-2EPT, synthesized by researchers at Kaunas College of Know-how in Lithuania. This sulfur-functionalized molecule types tin perovskite movies with good crystallinity and a extra favorable interface, decreasing digital losses.
Photo voltaic cells utilizing Th-2EPT outperformed these utilizing both PEDOT or MeO-2PACz, attaining an effectivity of 8.2%. “We’ve got demonstrated that the efficiency of tin perovskite photovoltaics may be considerably enhanced by way of focused and rational molecular design,” stated Dr. Musiienko. Co-author Valerio Stacchini added, “We show that the upper efficiency stems from the superb optoelectronic high quality of perovskite grown on the novel SAM.”
Analysis Report:Phenothiazine-Based Self-Assembled Monolayer with Thiophene Head Groups Minimizes Buried Interface Losses in Tin Perovskite Solar Cells
Associated Hyperlinks
Helmholtz Centre for Materials and Energy
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com
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