Self-assembled carbon dot-wrapped perovskites enable light trapping and defect passivation for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Simultaneously improving photovoltaic performance and longevity has become the main focus towards the commercialization of metal halide perovskite solar technology. Herein, we demonstrate resilient, high-efficiency triple-cation perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by incorporating carbon dots (CDs) derived from human hair into the perovskite film synthesis. It is found that the toluene-based antisolvent containing CDs results in the formation of a bilayer structure where a wave-like textured top perovskite layer is assembled on the bottom dense perovskite counterpart, enabling reduced optical losses through light trapping. Further characterizations have revealed that the CDs formed around and over the surface of perovskite crystals, serving as a full armour to preserve the perovskite stoichiometry during the crystallization and operation. Accordingly, the CDs-wrapped perovskite film demonstrates reduced density of interfacial defects including metallic lead clusters and uncoordinated halide vacancies, improved carrier recombination lifetime, better energy alignment with adjacent hole transport layer, and enhanced hydrophobicity. By leveraging these advantages to the PSCs, we have achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency of 20.22%, increased from 18.72% for the PSCs without CDs, while device stability is also significantly enhanced.