Fluorinated Cation-Based 2D Perovskites for Efficient and Stable 3D/2D Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells

Three-dimensional (3D) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) containing additives capable of forming two-dimensional (2D) structures in neat films have attracted attention due to their ability to enhance power conversion efficiency (PCE) in combination with improved operational stability. Herein, a newly designed fluorinated ammonium salt, 2-(perfluorophenyl)ethanaminium bromide:chloride(50:50) (FEABr:Cl-50:50), is introduced into CsMAFAPbI(3)-based PSCs with a standard n-i-p architecture. FEABr:Cl-50:50 was used as an additive in the tin(IV) oxide (SnO2) electron transporting layer (ETL) as well as a surface treatment for the perovskite film. Used in this dual way, the additive was found to passivate charge-trapping defects within the SnO2 ETL and regulate the crystal growth of the perovskite layer. When FEABr:Cl-50:50 was deposited onto the surface of the 3D perovskite film, it formed a thin hydrophobic 2D capping layer. Adopting this dual strategy led to the perovskite film having larger grain sizes, improved quality, and overall better device performance. As a result, the best-performing device exhibited a PCE of over 23% with negligible hysteresis in an n-i-p device architecture with an area of 0.2 cm(2). Furthermore, unencapsulated devices with the hydrophobic 2D capping layer showed improved stability compared to the control device when measured under continuous light irradiation at a maximum power point (MPP) at 80 +/- 5 degrees C in a humid (approximate to 50%) environment.