Bismuth Complex Controlled Morphology Evolution and CuSCN-Induced Transport Improvement Enable Efficient BiI₃ Solar Cells

Abstract

Bismuth triiodide (BiI3) is a particularly promising absorber material for inorganic thin-film solar cells due to its merits of nontoxicity and low cost. However, one key factor that limits the efficiency of BiI3 solar cells is the film morphology, which is strongly correlated with the trap states of the BiI3 film. Herein, we report a coordination engineering strategy by using Lewis base dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to induce the formation of a stable BiI3(DMSO)2 complex for controlling the morphology of BiI3 films. Density functional theory calculations further provide a theoretical framework for understanding the interaction of the BiI3(DMSO)2 complex with BiI3. The obtained BiI3(DMSO)2 complex could assist the fabrication of highly uniform and pinhole-free films with preferred crystallographic orientation. This high-quality film enables reduced trap densities, a suppressed charge recombination, and improved carrier mobility. In addition, the use of copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) as a hole transport layer improves the charge transport, enabling the realization of solar cells with a record power conversion efficiency of 1.80% and a champion fill factor of 51.5%. Our work deepens the insights into controlling the morphology of BiI3 thin films through the coordination engineering strategy and paves the way toward further improving the photovoltaic performances of BiI3 solar cells.

Keywords

• bismuth triiodide
• coordination engineering strategy
• morphology evolution
• charge transport
• inorganic solar cells