Quantifying Deep‐Level Defects‐Dominated Degradation for Commercially Viable Perovskite Solar Cells

Q Qiu Xiong (State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences Fuzhou P. R. China) C Can Wang X Xiaofeng Huang A Abd. Rashid bin Mohd Yusoff (Department of Physics Faculty of Science University Teknologi Malaysia Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia) P Pingping Sun W Weichun Pan (Engineering Research Center of Environment‐Friendly Functional Materials, Ministry of Education Fujian Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Functional Materials College of Materials Science and Engineering Huaqiao University Xiamen Fujian 361021 China) Z Zilong Zhang Q Qin Zhou L Lusheng Liang (State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry) J Jinbo Zhao Y Yong Gang (School of Electronic Science and Engineering Xiamen University Xiamen P. R. China) C Chunming Liu (State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry) Y Yao Wang J Jihuai Wu (Engineering Research Center of Environment‐Friendly Functional Materials Ministry of Education Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Functional Materials Institute of Materials Physical Chemistry Huaqiao University Xiamen 361021 China) Y Yongguang Tu (State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LOFE) &amp; Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics MIIT Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an 710072 China) M Meng Li X Xin Li B Binghui Wu N Nanfeng Zheng (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Preparation Technology of Nanomaterials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) S Su‐Yuan Xie (State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces <i>i</i>ChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials) Department of Chemistry Xiamen University Xiamen 361005 China) M Michael Grätzel P Peng Gao

Abstract

ABSTRACT The unclear mechanisms and dominant types of defects causing degradation hinder the stability of perovskite solar cells, leading to increased operating costs and limiting their commercialization. In this study, we identify deep‐level I FA and I Pb defects as the primary cause of device degradation based on quantitative analysis of capacitance‐frequency spectra combined with detailed balance theory, although the concentrations are lower than those of commonly believed shallow‐level defects by three orders of magnitude. To mitigate these issues, we design a non‐intercalary ligand coordination strategy through dual‐end electropositive 3TU 2+ ions, which effectively passivated the degradation‐induced deep‐level defects. This approach results in a significant improvement in quasi‐Fermi level splitting alignment, reducing energy loss at the rear interface by an order of magnitude (from 1.46% to 0.62%). In addition to achieving a certified efficiency of 25.56%, our devices demonstrate an extrapolated T 80 lifetime exceeding 10 years, as per the ISOS‐LC‐1 protocol. This improvement reduces the levelized cost of energy to 0.148$ kWh −1 , on par with silicon photovoltaics, thus enhancing the commercial viability of perovskite solar cells.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 40
Published July 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (22)

Q

Qiu Xiong

State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences Fuzhou P. R. China

C

Can Wang

X

Xiaofeng Huang

A

Abd. Rashid bin Mohd Yusoff

Department of Physics Faculty of Science University Teknologi Malaysia Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia

P

Pingping Sun

W

Weichun Pan

Engineering Research Center of Environment‐Friendly Functional Materials, Ministry of Education Fujian Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Functional Materials College of Materials Science and Engineering Huaqiao University Xiamen Fujian 361021 China

Z

Zilong Zhang

Q

Qin Zhou

L

Lusheng Liang

State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry

J

Jinbo Zhao

Y

Yong Gang

School of Electronic Science and Engineering Xiamen University Xiamen P. R. China

C

Chunming Liu

State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry

Y

Yao Wang

J

Jihuai Wu

Engineering Research Center of Environment‐Friendly Functional Materials Ministry of Education Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Functional Materials Institute of Materials Physical Chemistry Huaqiao University Xiamen 361021 China

Y

Yongguang Tu

State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LOFE) &amp; Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics MIIT Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an 710072 China

M

Meng Li

X

Xin Li

B

Binghui Wu

N

Nanfeng Zheng

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Preparation Technology of Nanomaterials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

S

Su‐Yuan Xie

State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces <i>i</i>ChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials) Department of Chemistry Xiamen University Xiamen 361005 China

M

Michael Grätzel

P

Peng Gao