Preventing bulky cation diffusion in lead halide perovskite solar cells

The impact on device stability of the bulky cation-modified interfaces in halide perovskite solar cells is not well-understood. We demonstrate the thermal instability of the bulky cation interface layers used in some of the highest performing solar cells to date. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and synchrotron-based grazing incidence X-ray scattering measurements reveal significant changes under thermal stress in the chemical composition and structure at the surface of these films. The changes impact charge carrier dynamics and device operation, as shown in transient photoluminescence, excitation correlation spectroscopy, and solar cells. The type of cation used for passivation affects the extent of these changes, where long carbon chains provide more stable interfaces and thus longer durability (more than 1000 hrs at 55ºC). Such findings highlight that annealing the treated interfaces before characterization is critical to enable reliable reporting of performances and to drive the selection between different cations.