Enhancing Light Utilization Efficiency of Semi-Transparent Perovskite Solar Cells via Tailored Interfacial Engineering

Semi-transparent perovskite solar cells (ST-PSCs) are promising for their application in building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs). For BIPVs, a light utilization efficiency (LUE) > 2.5 is required which is multiplication of average visible transmittance (AVT) and power conversion efficiency (PCE). Generally, semitransparency is achieved by reducing film thickness which increases AVT but decreases PCE resulting in lower LUE. Here, an interface engineering strategy is employed on a wide bandgap perovskite thin absorber layer to increase PCE and LUE. The study employs three different alkylamine hydrochlorides molecules with varied alkyl chain length, viz., 2-chloroethylamine-hydrochloride, 3-chloropropylamine-hydrochloride, and 4-chlorobutyalamine-hydrochloride at perovskite/electron transport layer (ETL) interface and investigates their effect on perovskite crystallization. Further, it is demonstrated that 4-chlorobutyalamine-hydrochloride can strongly interact with perovskite and suppress non-radiative recombination facilitating charge transport at the perovskite/ETL interface. Devices post-treated with 4-chlorobutyalamine-hydrochloride interfacial layer, demonstrate a higher LUE of 3.45% (PCE 14.11%) and AVT of approximate to 25% (400-800 nm), with V-oc of 1.23 V. Moreover, the unencapsulated devices retain approximate to 89% of the initial efficiency after storage for 1500 h under a relative humidity of approximate to 35-40%. This study provides an efficient approach to improve LUE and stability of ST-PSCs for the application in energy-efficient smart windows.