@misc{KotVorokhtaWangetal., author = {Kot, Małgorzata and Vorokhta, Mykhailo and Wang, Zhiping and Snaith, Henry J. and Schmeißer, Dieter and Flege, Jan Ingo}, title = {Thermal stability of CH3NH3PbIxCl3-x versus [HC(NH2)2]0.83Cs0.17PbI2.7Br0.3 perovskite films by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy}, series = {Applied Surface Science}, volume = {513}, journal = {Applied Surface Science}, issn = {0169-4332}, doi = {10.1016/j.apsusc.2020.145596}, pages = {7}, abstract = {The thermal stability of CH3NH3PbIxCl3-x and [HC(NH2)2]0.83Cs0.17PbI2.7Br0.3 perovskite films was studied in-situ by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that below 85 °C both of them are relatively stable. After annealing above 85 °C, we observe a clear perovskite surface decomposition, i.e., a release of organic cations and creation of "metallic lead". The mixed cation lead mixed halide perovskite, however, decomposes at a much lower rate. For both perovskite films, the metallic to the total lead ratio changes with the same rate for the same annealing temperatures. The release of A-site cations from the ABX3 crystal structure of perovskite and/or creation of "metallic lead" causes also a small shift of the valence band maximum towards the Fermi level. The release of [HC(NH2)2]± or Cs± is not as significant as the release of CH3NH3±; therefore, it may explain why [HC(NH2)2]0.83Cs0.17PbI2.7Br0.3 solar cells are thermally more stable. Therefore, as the stability of CH3NH3PbIxCl3-x is same as the stability of [HC(NH2)2]0.83Cs0.17PbI2.7Br0.3 below 85 °C, there must be more severe degradation pathways that are currently underappreciated on the solar cell level.}, language = {en} } @misc{KotKegelmannKoebleretal., author = {Kot, Małgorzata and Kegelmann, Lukas and K{\"o}bler, Hans and Vorokhta, Mykhailo and Escudero, Carlos and K{\´u}š, Peter and Šm{\´i}d, Břetislav and Tallarida, Massimo and Albrecht, Steve and Abate, Antonio and Matol{\´i}nov{\´a}, Iva and Schmeißer, Dieter and Flege, Jan Ingo}, title = {In situ Near-Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Reveals the Influence of Photon Flux and Water on the Stability of Halide Perovskite}, series = {ChemSusChem}, volume = {13}, journal = {ChemSusChem}, number = {21}, issn = {1864-5631}, doi = {10.1002/cssc.202001527}, pages = {5722 -- 5730}, abstract = {For several years, scientists have been trying to understand the mechanisms that reduce the long-term stability of perovskite solar cells. In this work, we examined the effect of water and photon flux on the stability of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite films and solar cells using in situ near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and current density-voltage (J-V) characterization. The used amount of water vapor (up to 1 mbar) had a negligible impact on the perovskite film. The higher the photon flux, the more prominent were the changes in the NAP-XPS and FESEM data; also, a faster decline in power conversion efficiency (PCE) and a more substantial hysteresis in the J-V characteristics were observed. Based on our results, it can be concluded that the PCE decrease originates from the creation of Frenkel pair defects in the perovskite film under illumination. The stronger the illumination, the higher the number of Frenkel defects, leading to a faster PCE decline and more substantial hysteresis in the J-V sweeps.}, language = {en} } @misc{KotDasKegelmannetal., author = {Kot, Małgorzata and Das, Chittaranjan and Kegelmann, Lukas and K{\"o}bler, Hans and Vorokhta, Mykhailo and Escudero, Carlos and Albrecht, Steve and Abate, Antonio and Flege, Jan Ingo}, title = {Application of atomic layer deposition and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in perovskite solar cells}, series = {Verhandlungen der DPG}, journal = {Verhandlungen der DPG}, publisher = {Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {0420-0195}, abstract = {In this work we have utilized near-ambient pressure and ultra-high vacuum X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as atomic layer deposition to investigate perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We have demonstrated that ultrathin room temperature atomic layer-deposited aluminium oxide on the perovskite surface very effectively suppresses iodine migration[1] and improves the long term stability and efficiency of PSCs [2,3]. Furthermore, exposure to light proves more detrimental to the perovskite film than exposure to water vapor.[2] Absorbed photons create Frenkel defects in the perovskite crystal and their number strongly depends on the used illumination. The higher the photon flux, the higher the concentration of Frenkel defects, and thus the stronger the degradation of power conversion efficiency and the stronger the hysteresis in the J-V characteristics. [1] C. Das, M. Kot et al., Cell Reports Physical Science 2020, 1, 100112. [2] M. Kot et al., ChemSusChem 2020, 13, 5722. [3] M. Kot et al., ChemSusChem 2018, 11, 3640.}, language = {en} }