Although incorporating multiple halogen (bromine) anions and alkali (rubidium) cations can improve the open-circuit voltage (Voc ) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), severe voltage loss and poor stability have remained pivotal limitations to their further commercialization. In this study, acetylcholine (ACh+ ) is anchored to the surface of a quadruple-cation perovskite to provide additional electron states near the valence band maximum of the perovskite surface, thereby enhancing the band alignment and minimizing the Voc loss significantly. Moreover, the quaternary ammonium and carbonyl units of ACh+ passivate the antisite and vacancy defects of the organic/inorganic hybrid perovskite. Because of strong interactions between ACh+ and the perovskite, the formation of lead clusters and the migration of halogen anions in the perovskite film are suppressed. As a result, the device prepared with ACh+ post-treatment delivers a power conversion efficiency (PCE) (21.56%) and a value of Voc (1.21 V) that are much higher than those of the pristine device, along with a twofold decrease in the hysteresis index. After storage for 720 h in humid air, the device subjected to ACh+ treatment maintained 70% of its initial PCE. Thus, post-treatment with ACh+ appears to be a useful strategy for preparing efficient and stable PSCs.
Keywords: acetylcholine; band-edge states; ion migration; perovskite solar cells; surface anchoring.
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