Enhancing FAPbI3 Solar Cells: Cadmium-Doping Boosts Efficiency and Stability in Blade-Coated Films

Research
Written By Sebastian Holleufer
Research Laboratory coater Lab Coater

Exciting News in Solar Cell Research!

Researchers have discovered a groundbreaking way to enhance the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells using formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3). By introducing a trace amount of cadmium (CdI2), they've unlocked a whole new level of performance:

  • Improved Stability: Cd doping stabilizes FAPbI3's black α-phase polymorph, even at room temperature, paving the way for scalable fabrication methods in ambient air.

  • Enhanced Efficiency: The 0.6% Cd-doped FAPbI3 solar cells achieved remarkable efficiencies of 22.7% for small scale and 16.4% for larger pixels. These are among the highest reported for air-ambient fully blade-coated pure FAPbI3 solar cells. The Cd-grade thin films were fabricated using a Research Laboratory Coater with a two-syringe pump system. This setup enabled the processing of two precursor inks with different concentrations of Cd-FAPbI3 into a dry thin film with different levels of Cd-FAPbI3 in the coating direction.

  • Better Charge Dynamics: Cadmium doping reduces non-radiative recombination events, leading to pin-hole free surfaces and improved band energy alignment. Transient absorption microscopy measurements reveal increased charge lifetimes and accumulation, resulting in higher photovoltage.

This study illuminates the potential of cadmium as a homovalent dopant for optimizing the performance and stability of FAPbI3 solar cells.

A promising step towards more efficient and sustainable solar energy.

Authors:

  • Dongyang Zhang, University of Victoria

  • Sutripto Khasnabis, The University of British Columbia

  • Wanlong Wang, Henan University

  • Vishal Yeddu, University of Victoria

  • Shahram Moradi, University of Victoria

  • Muhammad Awais, University of Victoria

  • Nguyen Hai Dang, University of Victoria

  • Sean Reinecke, University of Victoria

  • Yuki Haruta, University of Victoria

  • Robert Godin, The University of British Columbia

  • Furui Tan, Henan University

  • Makhsud Saidaminov, University of Victoria

Read the full study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aenm.202303858

Sebastian Holleufer
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