Nature Communications (Mar 2024)

Strain regulates the photovoltaic performance of thick-film perovskites

  • Pengju Shi,
  • Jiazhe Xu,
  • Ilhan Yavuz,
  • Tianyi Huang,
  • Shaun Tan,
  • Ke Zhao,
  • Xu Zhang,
  • Yuan Tian,
  • Sisi Wang,
  • Wei Fan,
  • Yahui Li,
  • Donger Jin,
  • Xuemeng Yu,
  • Chenyue Wang,
  • Xingyu Gao,
  • Zhong Chen,
  • Enzheng Shi,
  • Xihan Chen,
  • Deren Yang,
  • Jingjing Xue,
  • Yang Yang,
  • Rui Wang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47019-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Perovskite photovoltaics, typically based on a solution-processed perovskite layer with a film thickness of a few hundred nanometres, have emerged as a leading thin-film photovoltaic technology. Nevertheless, many critical issues pose challenges to its commercialization progress, including industrial compatibility, stability, scalability and reliability. A thicker perovskite film on a scale of micrometres could mitigate these issues. However, the efficiencies of thick-film perovskite cells lag behind those with nanometre film thickness. With the mechanism remaining elusive, the community has long been under the impression that the limiting factor lies in the short carrier lifetime as a result of defects. Here, by constructing a perovskite system with extraordinarily long carrier lifetime, we rule out the restrictions of carrier lifetime on the device performance. Through this, we unveil the critical role of the ignored lattice strain in thick films. Our results provide insights into the factors limiting the performance of thick-film perovskite devices.