Development of Low-cost Air-stable Electronic Inks with Self-Dissociated Surface Ligand for Air-processed Long-term Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

The rapid efficiency development of metal-organic-halide perovskite in the last 5 years has attracted tremendous attentions in the solar technology community. Over 20% power conversion efficiency, exceeding those amorphous and multi-crystalline silicon (Si) based solar cells, has been recently demonstrated. However, cost and stability of existing perovskite solar cells still hinder the commercialization of the technology. It is worth noting that most laboratories reported high-efficiency perovskite solar cells were made with expensive organic interlayers with device stabilities remain a major concern. In this proposed project, we will develop electronic inks for perovskite solar cells that are (1) low-cost, (2) air-stable, (3) solution processable, (4) robust, and (5) annealing-free. The inks to be developed will be using metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with specific surface ligand stabilizers. The technological advancement of the surface ligand stabilizers is that not only can passivate metal-oxide (NPs) surface for long-term stability in solution, but also can self-dissociated at room temperature to retain the excellent electronic properties of the NPs. All-oxide interlayer incorporated perovskite solar cells will be realized with the proposed electronic inks. A standard operational stability testing protocol (ISOS 2008-2010) will also be setup to align with the recent consensus in the community.