Low-Temperature Aging Provides 22% Efficient Bromine-Free and Passivation Layer-Free Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract

Previous reports of formamidinium/methylamine (FAMA)-mixed halide perovskite solar cells have focused mainly on controlling the morphology of the perovskite film and its interface—for example, through the inclusion of bromine and surface passivation. In this paper, we describe a new processing pathway for the growth of a high-quality bromine-free FAMAPbI₃ halide perovskites via the control of intermediate phase. Through low-temperature aging growth (LTAG) of a freshly deposited perovskite film, α-phase perovskites can be seeded in the intermediate phase and, at the same time, prevent beta-phase perovskite to nucleate. After postannealing, large grain-size perovskites with significantly reduced PbI₂ presence on the surface can be obtained, thereby eliminating the need of additional surface passivation step. Our pristine LTAG-treated solar cells could provide PCEs of greater than 22% without elaborate use of bromine or an additional passivation layer. More importantly, when using this LTAG process, the growth of the pure alpha-phase FAMAPbI₃ was highly reproducible.