Redefining PbS Quantum Dot Photovoltaics: p‐i‐n Devices with Superior Efficiency and Reproducibility
Abstract
Abstract Developing diverse photovoltaic device architectures is essential not only for improving power conversion efficiency (PCE) but also for enabling seamless integration with other photovoltaic materials in high‐performance tandem configurations. While n‐i‐p architectures have historically dominated the development of PbS colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) solar cells, p‐i‐n counterparts have significantly lagged behind in efficiency, limiting their potential for further advancement. In this work, the advantage of the surface tunability of CQDs is taken by anchoring the classical self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) molecule MeO‐2PACz onto PbS CQDs via ligand exchange, forming a PbS‐SAM bridging‐layer, which is inserted between NiOx/SAM and the CQD active layer, resulting in a NiOx/SAM/PbS‐SAM composite hole transporting layer (HTL). This structure effectively passivates the buried interfacial traps and enhances hole extraction. As a result, a record PCE approaching 14% is achieved, with a certified value of 13.62%, which is not only largely surpassing the previous highest value of 9.70% for p‐i‐n PbS QD solar cells, but also exceeds the current PCE record set by n‐i‐p architectures. Moreover, the p‐i‐n configuration exhibits excellent reproducibility, providing a robust and scalable platform for future applications, particularly as a narrow‐bandgap subcell in monolithic tandem devices with wide‐bandgap materials such as perovskites.
Article Details
Authors (15)
Can Gao
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Juncheng Zhu
Hefei National Research Center for Physical Science at Microscale
Xiaobo Ding
School of Environment and Energy Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Storage Materials South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510006 P.R. China
Kunyuan Lu
State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu,
Xin Wen
Lin Yuan
State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Yang Li
Leliang Song
State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu P. R. China
Yu Yin
Institute of Translational Medicine
Guozheng Shi
School of Engineering Macquarie University Sydney NSW 2109 Australia
Yuran Xiao
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon‐Based Functional Materials and Devices Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 PR China
Lizhen Huang
State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)
Qing Shen
Zeke Liu
State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu,
Wanli Ma