Molecular ferroelectric self-assembled interlayer for efficient perovskite solar cells

Chang Xu; Pengjie Hang; Chenxia Kan; Xiangwei Guo; Xianjiang Song; Chenran Xu; Guofeng You; Wei-Qiang Liao; Haiming Zhu; Dawei Wang; Qi Chen; Zijian Hong; Ren-Gen Xiong; Xuegong Yu; Lijian Zuo; Hongzheng Chen

doi:10.1038/s41467-025-56182-5

Molecular ferroelectric self-assembled interlayer for efficient perovskite solar cells

Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 19;16(1):835. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56182-5.

Authors

Chang Xu^#¹, Pengjie Hang^#², Chenxia Kan^#², Xiangwei Guo^#^{2

3}, Xianjiang Song⁴, Chenran Xu⁵, Guofeng You¹, Wei-Qiang Liao⁴, Haiming Zhu⁶, Dawei Wang⁵, Qi Chen⁷, Zijian Hong^{8

9}, Ren-Gen Xiong¹⁰, Xuegong Yu^{11

12}, Lijian Zuo^{13

14}, Hongzheng Chen^{15

16}

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, International Research Center for X Polymers, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
² State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
³ Zhejiang University-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, PR China.
⁴ Ordered Matter Science Research Center, Nanchang University, Nanchang, PR China.
⁵ Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information and Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Technology and Device, Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
⁷ i-Lab, CAS Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Materials and Devices, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, PR China. qchen2011@sinano.ac.cn.
⁸ State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China. hongzijian100@zju.edu.cn.
⁹ Research Institute of Zhejiang University-Taizhou, Zhejiang University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China. hongzijian100@zju.edu.cn.
¹⁰ Ordered Matter Science Research Center, Nanchang University, Nanchang, PR China. xiongrg@seu.edu.cn.
¹¹ State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China. yuxuegong@zju.edu.cn.
¹² Zhejiang University-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, PR China. yuxuegong@zju.edu.cn.
¹³ State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, International Research Center for X Polymers, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China. zjuzlj@zju.edu.cn.
¹⁴ Zhejiang University-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, PR China. zjuzlj@zju.edu.cn.
¹⁵ State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, International Research Center for X Polymers, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China. hzchen@zju.edu.cn.
¹⁶ Zhejiang University-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, PR China. hzchen@zju.edu.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

The interfacial molecular dipole enhances the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by facilitating improved charge extraction. However, conventional self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) face challenges like inadequate interface coverage and weak dipole interactions. Herein, we develop a strategy using a self-assembled ferroelectric layer to modify the interfacial properties of PSCs. Specifically, we employ 1-adamantanamine hydroiodide (ADAI) to establish robust chemical interactions and create a dipole layer over the perovskite. The oriented molecular packing and spontaneous polarity of ferroelectric ADAI generate a substantial interfacial dipole, adjusting band bending at the anode, reducing band misalignment, and suppressing charge recombination. Consequently, our formamidinium lead iodide-based conventional PSC achieves efficiencies of 25.13% (0.06 cm²) and 23.5% (1.00 cm²) while exhibiting enhanced stability. Notably, we demonstrate an impressive efficiency of 25.59% (certified at 25.36%) in a 0.06 cm² area for the inverted champion device, showcasing the promise of ferroelectric SAMs for PSCs performance enhancement.

Abstract

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