Thermodynamically stabilized β-CsPbI3–based perovskite solar cells with efficiencies >18%

Abstract

Although β-CsPbI ₃ has a bandgap favorable for application in tandem solar cells, depositing and stabilizing β-CsPbI ₃ experimentally has remained a challenge. We obtained highly crystalline β-CsPbI ₃ films with an extended spectral response and enhanced phase stability. Synchrotron-based x-ray scattering revealed the presence of highly oriented β-CsPbI ₃ grains, and sensitive elemental analyses—including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry—confirmed their all-inorganic composition. We further mitigated the effects of cracks and pinholes in the perovskite layer by surface treating with choline iodide, which increased the charge-carrier lifetime and improved the energy-level alignment between the β-CsPbI ₃ absorber layer and carrier-selective contacts. The perovskite solar cells made from the treated material have highly reproducible and stable efficiencies reaching 18.4% under 45 ± 5°C ambient conditions.