TY - GEN A1 - Indra, Arindam A1 - Menezes, Prashanth W. A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Schmeißer, Dieter A1 - Driess, Matthias T1 - Alkaline electrochemical water oxidation with multi-shelled cobalt manganese oxide hollow spheres T2 - Chemical Communications N2 - Multi-shelled hollow spheres of cobalt manganese oxides (CMOs) deposited on Ni foam exhibited superior alkaline electrochemical water oxidation activity and surpassed those of bulk CMO and commercial noble metal-based catalysts. A higher amount of cobalt in the spinel structure resulted in the transformation of the tetragonal to the cubic phase with a decrease in the overpotential of oxygen evolution. KW - Water oxidation KW - Cobalt manganese oxides (CMOs) KW - Multi-shelled hollow spheres KW - Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) KW - Cyclic voltammetry KW - Scanning electron microscopy Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/C7CC03566G SN - 1359-7345 SN - 1364-548X VL - 53 IS - 62 SP - 8641 EP - 8644 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Cibrev, Dejan A1 - Tallarida, Massimo A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Lana-Villarreal, Teresa A1 - Schmeißer, Dieter A1 - Gómez, Roberto T1 - New insights into water photooxidation on reductively pretreated hematite photoanodes T2 - Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics N2 - It has been recently demonstrated that the photoactivity toward oxygen evolution of a number of n-type metal oxides can be substantially improved by a reductive electrochemical pretreatment. Such an enhancement has been primarily linked to the formation of low valent metal species that increase electrode conductivity. In this work, we report new insights into the electrochemical doping using highly ordered (110)-oriented hematite nanorods directly grown on FTO. The reductive pretreatment consists in applying negative potentials for a controlled period of time. Such a pretreatment was optimized in both potentiostatic and potentiodynamic regimes. We show that the optimized pretreatment enhances electrode conductivity due to an increase in charge carrier density. However, it additionally triggers changes in the morphologic, catalytic and electronic properties that facilitate the separation and collection of the photogenerated charge carriers causing an up to 8-fold enhancement in the photocurrent for water oxidation. The reductive pretreatment can be considered as a highly controllable electrochemical n-type doping with the amount of generated Fe2+/polaron species and the change in film morphology as the main factors determining the final efficiency for water photooxidation of the resulting electrodes. KW - hematite KW - photoanode KW - water oxidation KW - water splitting Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/C7CP03958A SN - 1463-9076 SN - 1463-9084 VL - 19 IS - 32 SP - 21807 EP - 21817 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Henkel, Karsten A1 - Wojciechowski, Konrad A1 - Snaith, Henry J. A1 - Schmeißer, Dieter T1 - Room temperature atomic layer deposited Al₂O₃ on CH₃NH₃PbI₃ characterized by synchrotron-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy T2 - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B N2 - An ultrathin Al₂O₃ film deposited on methylammonium lead triiodide (CH₃NH₃PbI₃) perovskite has the capability to suppress the carrier recombination process and improve the perovskite solar cells efficiency and stability. However, annealing at temperatures higher than 85°C degrades the CH₃NH₃PbI₃ perovskite film. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study performed in this work indicates that it is possible to grow Al₂O₃ by atomic layer deposition on the perovskite at room temperature, however, besides pure Al₂O₃ some OH groups are found and the creation of lead and iodine oxides at the Al₂O₃/CH₃NH₃PbI₃ interface takes place. KW - Synchrotron-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy KW - Perovskite solar cells KW - Atomic layer deposition KW - Al₂O₃ Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2017.01.082 SN - 0168-583X SN - 1872-9584 VL - 411 SP - 49 EP - 52 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Schmeißer, Dieter A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Corrêa, Silma Alberton A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Henkel, Karsten ED - Wandelt, Klaus T1 - Interface Potentials, Intrinsic Defects, and Passivation Mechanisms in Al₂O₃, HfO₂, and TiO₂ Ultrathin Films T2 - Encyclopedia of Interfacial Chemistry: Surface Science and Electrochemistry, vol. 3.1 N2 - We study the electronic structure of ultrathin Al₂O₃, HfO₂, and TiO₂ ALD films by resonant photoelectron spectroscopy. We identify intrinsic defects which are responsible for the active sites in interface reactions, for the incorporation of intrinsic charges, and for the formation of local dipole momenta. All of these features determine the surface potentials and the reactivity of the surface of the atomic layer deposition coated systems. We give examples of charges and dipoles in Al₂O₃, on a study of the surface potentials in HfO₂, and relate the intrinsic defects in TiO₂ to their electrochemical relevance. KW - Atomic layer deposition (ALD) KW - Resonant photoelectron spectroscopy (resPES) KW - Band scheme KW - Interface potential KW - Intrinsic charges KW - Intrinsic defects KW - Partial density of states (pDOS) KW - Exciton KW - Polaron KW - Ligand-to-metal charge transfer KW - Aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) KW - Hafnium oxide (HfO₂) KW - Titanium Oxide (TiO₂) Y1 - 2018 SN - 978-0-12-809739-7 SN - 978-0-12-814984-3 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409547-2.14119-8 SP - 162 EP - 171 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Kegelmann, Lukas A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Kus, Peter A1 - Tsud, Nataliya A1 - Matolínová, Iva A1 - Albrecht, Steve A1 - Matolin, Vladimir A1 - Schmeißer, Dieter T1 - Room temperature atomic layer deposited Al₂O₃ improves perovskite solar cells efficiency over time T2 - ChemSusChem N2 - Electrical characterisation of perovskite solar cells consisting of room-temperature atomic-layer-deposited aluminium oxide (RT-ALD-Al₂O₃) film on top of a methyl ammonium lead triiodide (CH₃NH₃PbI₃) absorber showed excellent stability of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) over along time. Under the same environmental conditions (for 355 d), the average PCE of solar cells without the ALD layer decreased from 13.6 to 9.6 %, whereas that of solar cells containing 9 ALD cycles of depositing RT-ALD-Al₂O₃on top of CH₃NH₃PbI₃ increased from 9.4 to 10.8 %. Spectromicroscopic investigations of the ALD/perovskite interface revealed that the maximum PCE with the ALD layer is obtained when the so-called perovskite cleaning process induced by ALD precursors is complete. The PCE enhancement over time is probably related to a self-healing process induced by the RT-ALD-Al₂O₃ film. This work may provide a new direction for further improving the long-term stability and performance of perovskite solar cells. KW - Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) KW - Atomic layer deposition (ALD) KW - long time stabilty KW - X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) KW - Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201801434 SN - 1864-5631 SN - 1864-564X VL - 11 IS - 20 SP - 3640 EP - 3648 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Baran, Derya A1 - Saliba, Michael T1 - Themed issue on electronic properties and characterisation of perovskites T2 - Journal of Materials Chemistry C KW - perovskite solar cells KW - electronic properties of perovskites Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c9tc90085c SN - 2050-7526 SN - 2050-7534 VL - 7 SP - 5224 EP - 5225 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Hellmann, Tim A1 - Wittich, Carolin A1 - Mankel, Eric A1 - Zimmermann, Iwan A1 - Schmeißer, Dieter A1 - Nazeeruddin, Mohammad Khaja A1 - Jaegermann, Wolfram T1 - Atomic Layer-Deposited Aluminum Oxide Hinders Iodide Migration and Stabilizes Perovskite Solar Cells T2 - Cell Reports Physical Science N2 - Iodide migration causes degradation of the perovskite solar cells. Here,we observe the direct migration of iodide into the hole-transport layer in a device. We demonstrate that ultrathin room temperature atomic layer-deposited Al2O3 on the perovskite surface very effectively hinders the migration. The perovskite-Al2O3 interface enables charge transfer across the Al2O3 layer in the solar cells, without causing any drastic changes in the properties of the perovskite absorber. Furthermore, it helps to preserve the initial properties of the perovskite film during exposure to light and air under real operating conditions, and thus, improves the stability of the solar cells. The ultrathin Al2O3 layer deposited at room temperature significantly increases the lifetime of the perovskite solar cells, and we hope this may be a step toward the mass production of stable devices. KW - perovskite solar cells KW - iodine migration KW - stability KW - X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) KW - atomic layer deposition (ALD) KW - aluminum oxide (Al2O3) Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2020.100112 SN - 2666-3864 VL - 1 IS - 7 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Zia, Waqas A1 - Mortan, Claudiu A1 - Hussain, Navid A1 - Saliba, Michael A1 - Flege, Jan Ingo A1 - Kot, Małgorzata T1 - Top-Down Approach to Study Chemical and Electronic Properties of Perovskite Solar Cells: Sputtered Depth Profiling Versus Tapered Cross-Sectional Photoelectron Spectroscopies T2 - Solar RRL N2 - A study of the chemical and electronic properties of various layers across perovskite solar cell (PSC) stacks is challenging. Depth-profiling photoemission spectroscopy can be used to study the surface, interface, and bulk properties of different layers in PSCs, which influence the overall performance of these devices. Herein, sputter depth profiling (SDP) and tapered cross-sectional (TCS) photoelectron spectroscopies (PESs) are used to study highly efficient mixed halide PSCs. It is found that the most used SDP-PES technique degrades the organic and deforms the inorganic materials during sputtering of the PSCs while the TCS-PES method is less destructive and can determine the chemical and electronic properties of all layers precisely. The SDP-PES dissociates the chemical bonding in the spiro-MeOTAD and perovskite layer and reduces the TiO2, which causes the chemical analysis to be unreliable. The TCS-PES revealed a band bending only at the spiro-MeOTAD/perovskite interface of about 0.7 eV. Both the TCS and SDP-PES show that the perovskite layer is inhomogeneous and has a higher amount of bromine at the perovskite/TiO2 interface. KW - chemical distributions KW - depth profiles KW - interfaces KW - perovskite solar cells KW - X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202100298 SN - 2367-198X VL - 5 IS - 10 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Kedia, Mayank A1 - Zuo, Weiwei A1 - Mortan, Claudiu A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Flege, Jan Ingo A1 - Saliba, Michael T1 - Band Bending at Hole Transporting Layer-Perovskite Interfaces in n-i-p and in p-i-n Architecture T2 - Solar RRL N2 - Interfaces between hybrid perovskite absorber and its adjacent charge-transporting layers are of high importance for solar cells performance. Understanding their chemical and electronic properties is a key step in designing efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. In this work, the tapered cross-section photoemission spectroscopy (TCS-PES) method is used to study the methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) (MAPI)-based solar cells in two configurations, that is, in an inverted p–i–n and in a classical n–i–p architecture. It is revealed in the results that the MAPI film deposited once on the n-type TiO2 and once on the p-type NiOx substrates is neither an intrinsic semiconductor nor adapts to the dopant nature of the substrate underneath, but it is heavily n-type doped on both substrates. In addition to that, the TCS-PES results identify that the band bending between the MAPI film and the hole transporting layer (HTL) layer depends on the perovskite solar cells architecture. In particular, a band bending on the HTL side in the n–i–p and at the MAPI in the p–i–n architecture is found. The flat band of NiOx at the NiOx/MAPI interface can be explained by the Fermi level pinning of the NiOx at the interface. KW - band bending KW - hole transporting layer KW - perovskites KW - X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202200348 SN - 2367-198X VL - 6 IS - 9 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Kegelmann, Lukas A1 - Köbler, Hans A1 - Vorokhta, Mykhailo A1 - Escudero, Carlos A1 - Albrecht, Steve A1 - Abate, Antonio A1 - Flege, Jan Ingo T1 - Application of atomic layer deposition and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in perovskite solar cells T2 - Verhandlungen der DPG N2 - 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. KW - atomic layer deposition KW - x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy KW - perovskite solar cells KW - aluminium oxide KW - iodine migration KW - long term stability KW - Frenkel defects Y1 - 2022 UR - https://www.dpg-verhandlungen.de/year/2022/conference/regensburg/part/hl/session/5/contribution/4 SN - 0420-0195 PB - Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft CY - Bad Honnef ER - TY - GEN A1 - Zia, Waqas A1 - Malekshahi Byranvand, Mahdi A1 - Rudolph, Toby A1 - Rai, Monika A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Kedia, Mayank A1 - Zohdi, Mohammadreza A1 - Zuo, Weiwei A1 - Yeddu, Vishal A1 - Saidaminov, Makhsud I. A1 - Flege, Jan Ingo A1 - Kirchartz, Thomas A1 - Saliba, Michael T1 - MAPbCl3 Light Absorber for Highest Voltage Perovskite Solar Cells T2 - ACS Energy Letters N2 - Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) excel in achieving high open-circuit voltages (VOC) for narrow bandgaps (∼1.6 eV) but face challenges with wide-bandgap perovskites, like methylammonium lead trichloride (MAPbCl3) with a 3.03 eV bandgap. These materials are transparent in visible absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light. However, achieving uniform film crystallization remains a hurdle. Here, we enhance MAPbCl3 crystallization by manipulating annealing atmospheres (nitrogen, air, and MACl vapor). Excess MACl vapor improves surface coverage, which is crucial for film stability. We demonstrate that the microstructure of the perovskite film, including surface morphology, grain boundaries, and interfaces, can affect the photovoltaic properties. The subsequently obtained VOC of 1.78 V is the highest recorded for single-junction PSCs to the best of our knowledge. Surprisingly, the conventional hole-transport layer spiro-OMeTAD, optimized for narrow bandgaps, sustains such high voltages. Photoluminescence measurements reveal a trap-assisted recombination peak at 1.65 eV, indicating deep traps as significant to voltage loss in MAPbCl3. KW - Perovskite solar cells KW - methylammonium lead trichloride (MAPbCl3) KW - uniform film crystallization KW - manipulation of annealing atmospheres KW - trap-assisted recombination KW - microstructure Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.3c02777 SN - 2380-8195 VL - 9 SP - 1017 EP - 1024 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kodalle, Tim A1 - Malekshahi Byranvand, Mahdi A1 - Goudreau, Meredith A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Roy, Rajarshi A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Briesenick, Simon A1 - Zohdi, Mohammadreza A1 - Rai, Monika A1 - Tamura, Nobumichi A1 - Flege, Jan Ingo A1 - Hempel, Wolfram A1 - Sutter‐Fella, Carolin M. A1 - Saliba, Michael T1 - An integrated deposition and passivation strategy for controlled crystallization of 2D/3D Halide Perovskite films T2 - Advanced Materials N2 - This work introduces a simplified deposition procedure for multidimensional (2D/3D) perovskite thin films, integrating a phenethylammonium chloride (PEACl)‐treatment into the antisolvent step when forming the 3D perovskite. This simultaneous deposition and passivation strategy reduces the number of synthesis steps while simultaneously stabilizing the halide perovskite film and improving the photovoltaic performance of resulting solar cell devices to 20.8%. Using a combination of multimodal in situ and additional ex situ characterizations, it is demonstrated that the introduction of PEACl during the perovskite film formation slows down the crystal growth process, which leads to a larger average grain size and narrower grain size distribution, thus reducing carrier recombination at grain boundaries and improving the device's performance and stability. The data suggests that during annealing of the wet film, the PEACl diffuses to the surface of the film, forming hydrophobic (quasi‐)2D structures that protect the bulk of the perovskite film from humidity‐induced degradation. KW - 2D/3D perovskites KW - crystallization KW - in situ characterization KW - stability Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202309154 SN - 0935-9648 VL - 36 IS - 24 PB - Wiley CY - Weinheim ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Alonso, Clara Patricia Aranda A1 - Prochowicz, Daniel T1 - Perovskites: from materials science to devices T2 - Journal of Materials Chemistry C N2 - An introduction to the Journal of Materials Chemistry C themed collection on perovskite materials. Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/d4tc90109f SN - 2050-7526 VL - 12 IS - 28 SP - 10244 EP - 10245 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) CY - Cambridge ER - TY - GEN A1 - Zuo, Weiwei A1 - Malekshahi Byranvand, Mahdi A1 - Kodalle, Tim A1 - Zohdi, Mohammadreza A1 - Lim, Jaekeun A1 - Carlsen, Brian A1 - Friedlmeier, Theresa Magorian A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Flege, Jan Ingo A1 - Zong, Wansheng A1 - Abate, Antonio A1 - Sutter‐Fella, Carolin M. A1 - Li, Meng A1 - Saliba, Michael T1 - Coordination Chemistry as a Universal Strategy for a Controlled Perovskite Crystallization T2 - Advanced Materials N2 - The most efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are made from a complex mixture of precursors. Typically, to then form a thin film, an extreme oversaturation of the perovskite precursor is initiated to trigger nucleation sites, e.g., by vacuum, an airstream, or a so-called antisolvent. Unfortunately, most oversaturation triggers do not expel the lingering (and highly coordinating) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which is used as a precursor solvent, from the thin films; this detrimentally affects long-term stability. In this work, (the green) dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is introduced as a novel nucleation trigger for perovskite films combining, uniquely, high coordination and high vapor pressure. This gives DMS a universal scope: DMS replaces other solvents by coordinating more strongly and removes itself once the film formation is finished. To demonstrate this novel coordination chemistry approach, MAPbI3 PSCs are processed, typically dissolved in hard-to-remove (and green) DMSO achieving 21.6% efficiency, among the highest reported efficiencies for this system. To confirm the universality of the strategy, DMS is tested for FAPbI3 as another composition, which shows higher efficiency of 23.5% compared to 20.9% for a device fabricated with chlorobenzene. This work provides a universal strategy to control perovskite crystallization using coordination chemistry, heralding the revival of perovskite compositions with pure DMSO. KW - Perovskite solar cells KW - nucleation KW - dimethyl sulfide ()DMS) solvent KW - coordination chemistry Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202302889 SN - 0935-9648 SN - 1521-4095 VL - 35 IS - 39 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kedia, Mayank A1 - Rai, Monika A1 - Phirke, Himanshu A1 - Aranda, Clara A. A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Chirvony, Vladimir A1 - Boehringer, Stephan A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Malekshahi Byranvand, Mahdi A1 - Flege, Jan Ingo A1 - Redinger, Alex A1 - Saliba, Michael T1 - Light Makes Right: Laser Polishing for Surface Modification of Perovskite Solar Cells T2 - ACS Energy Letters N2 - Interface engineering is a common strategy for passivating surface defects to attain open circuit voltages (Voc) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this work, we introduce the concept of polishing a perovskite thin-film surface using a nanosecond (ns) pulsed ultraviolet laser to reduce surface defects, such as dangling bonds, undesirable phases, and suboptimal stoichiometry. A careful control of laser energy and scanning speed improves the photophysical properties of the surface without compromising the thickness. Using laser polishing, a Voc of 1.21 V is achieved for planar PSCs with a triple cation composition, showing an improved perovskite/hole transport interface by mitigating surface recombination losses. We measure an efficiency boost from 18.0% to 19.3% with improved stability of up to 1000 h. The results open the door to a new class of surface modification using lasers for interface passivation in well-controllable, automated, scalable, and solvent-free surface treatments. KW - Perovskite solar cells KW - laser polishing KW - perovskite/hole transport interface KW - surface defects KW - recombination losses Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.3c00469 SN - 2380-8195 VL - 8 SP - 2603 EP - 2610 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Roy, Rajarshi A1 - Kedia, Mayank A1 - Kot, Małgorzata A1 - Zuo, Weiwei A1 - Félix, Roberto A1 - Sobol, Tomasz A1 - Flege, Jan Ingo A1 - Saliba, Michael T1 - Unraveling the Role of Perovskite in Buried Interface Passivation T2 - ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces N2 - Interfaces in perovskite solar cells play a crucial role in their overall performance, and therefore, detailed fundamental studies are needed for a better understanding. In the case of the classical n–i–p architecture, TiO2 is one of the most used electron-selective layers and can induce chemical reactions that influence the performance of the overall device stack. The interfacial properties at the TiO2/perovskite interface are often neglected, owing to the difficulty in accessing this interface. Here, we use X-rays of variable energies to study the interface of (compact and mesoporous) TiO2/perovskite in such a n–i–p architecture. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy methods show that the defect states present in the TiO2 layer are passivated by a chemical interaction of the perovskite precursor solution during the formation of the perovskite layer and form an organic layer at the interface. Such passivation of intrinsic defects in TiO2 removes charge recombination centers and shifts the bands upward. Therefore, interface defect passivation by oxidation of Ti3+ states, the organic cation layer, and an upward band bending at the TiO2/perovskite interface explain the origin of an improved electron extraction and hole-blocking nature of TiO2 in the n–i–p perovskite solar cells. KW - perovskite solar cells KW - interface KW - defects KW - photoemission spectroscopy Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c13085 SN - 1944-8244 SN - 1944-8252 VL - 15 IS - 48 SP - 56500 EP - 56510 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Kedia, Mayank A1 - Das, Chittaranjan A1 - Kot, Malgorzata A1 - Yalcinkaya, Yenal A1 - Zuo, Weiwei A1 - Tabah Tanko, Kenedy A1 - Matvija, Peter A1 - Ezquer, Mikel A1 - Cornago, Iñaki A1 - Hempel, Wolfram A1 - Kauffmann, Florian A1 - Plate, Paul A1 - Lira-Cantu, Monica A1 - Weber, Stefan A.L. A1 - Saliba, Michael T1 - Mitigating the amorphization of perovskite layers by using atomic layer deposition of alumina T2 - Energy & environmental science N2 - Atomic layer deposition of aluminum oxide (ALD-Al2O3) layers has recently been studied for stabilizing perovskite solar cells (PSCs) against environmental stressors, such as humidity and oxygen. In addition, the ALD-Al2O3 layer acts as a protective barrier, mitigating pernicious halide ion migration from the perovskite towards the hole transport interface. However, its effectiveness in preventing the infiltration of ions and additives from the hole-transport layer into perovskites remains insufficiently understood. Herein, we demonstrate the deposition of a compact ultrathin (∼0.75 nm) ALD-Al2O3 layer that conformally coats the morphology of a triple-cation perovskite layer. This promotes an effective contact of the hole transporter layer on top of the perovskite, thereby improving the charge carrier collection between these two layers. Upon systematically investigating the layer-by-layer structure of the PSC, we discovered that ALD-Al2O3 also acts as a diffusion barrier for the degraded species from the adjacent transport layer into the perovskite. In addition to these protective considerations, ALD-Al2O3 impedes the transition of crystalline perovskites to an undesired amorphous phase. Consequently, the dual functionality (i.e., enhanced contact and diffusion barrier) of the ALD-Al2O3 protection enhanced the device performance from 19.1% to 20.5%, while retaining 98% of its initial performance compared to <10% for pristine devices after 1500 h of outdoor testing under ambient conditions. Finally, this study deepens our understanding of the mechanism of ALD-Al2O3 as a two-way diffusion barrier, highlighting the multifaceted role of buffer layers in interfacial engineering for the long-term stability of PSCs. Y1 - 2025 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EE05703A SN - 1754-5692 VL - 18 IS - 11 SP - 5250 EP - 5263 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) CY - London ER -