Uridine as additive in antisolvent for improving performance and reproducibility of perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Today, with their high efficiency of up to 25%, perovskite solar cells are the best alternative to silicon solar panels, which have relatively difficult manufacturing process, with the increasing trend toward clean energy. Despite their high efficiency, there are some issues such as reproducibility that must be solved. Additive engineering is most promising method for overcoming this problem. In this study, Uridine molecule, which is pyrimidine nucleoside and has important role in living organism, was investigated as additive in secondary butanol with different concentrations (1/10, 1/20, 1/50, 1/100, and 1/300 dilutions from saturated solution). Secondary butanol was employed in antisolvent washing step during device fabrication. Obtained results were compared with the results that of device referred as reference and fabricated without using Uridine. The results showed that the average efficiencies and reproducibility of device increase by Uridine doping. The highest efficiency increase was obtained for the device fabricated using solutions, including Uridine with 1/50 dilution. The Uridine molecule deposited between boundary layer and the perovskite grains promoted the charge transfer rate by means of passivating the traps formed during the fast crystal growth.