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| Open AccessFree-standing ultrathin silicon wafers and solar cells through edges reinforcement
Lightweight and flexible thin crystalline silicon solar cells have huge market potential but remain relatively unexplored. Here, authors present a thin silicon structure with reinforced ring to prepare free-standing 4.7-μm 4-inch silicon wafers, achieving efficiency of 20.33% for 28-μm solar cells.
- Taojian Wu
- , Zhaolang Liu
- & Wenzhong Shen
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Article
| Open AccessHarnessing strong aromatic conjugation in low-dimensional perovskite heterojunctions for high-performance photovoltaic devices
The large organic cations in low-dimensional perovskite often introduces carrier mobility anisotropy and impedes charge transport. Here, authors report perovskite heterojunction with strong aromatic conjugated perovskites, realizing certified efficiency of over 25% in stable perovskite solar cells.
- Bo Li
- , Qi Liu
- & Zonglong Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessMixed tin-lead perovskites with balanced crystallization and oxidation barrier for all-perovskite tandem solar cells
The disparity in crystallization processes between tin- and lead-based perovskites has been a dominant factor contributing to high defect densities. Here, authors employ a functional molecule to inhibit tin oxidation, realizing monolithic all-perovskite tandems with certified efficiency over 27%.
- Jin Zhou
- , Shiqiang Fu
- & Weijun Ke
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Article
| Open AccessThe first demonstration of entirely roll-to-roll fabricated perovskite solar cell modules under ambient room conditions
The translation of perovskite solar cells to large-area devices fabricated by industry-relevant manufacturing methods remains a critical challenge. Here, authors report solar modules with serially-interconnected cells produced entirely by industrial roll-to-roll printing under ambient conditions.
- Hasitha C. Weerasinghe
- , Nasiruddin Macadam
- & Doojin Vak
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| Open AccessTuning polymer-backbone coplanarity and conformational order to achieve high-performance printed all-polymer solar cells
All-polymer solar cells comprising both polymeric donors and acceptors offer better morphological and mechanical stability, and a broader processing window for printing. Here, the authors report a polymer acceptor based on bithiazole linker with more coplanar and ordered molecular conformation.
- Yilei Wu
- , Yue Yuan
- & Zhenan Bao
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Article
| Open AccessSelenium substitution for dielectric constant improvement and hole-transfer acceleration in non-fullerene organic solar cells
Dielectric constant of non-fullerene acceptors plays a critical role in organic solar cells in terms of exciton dissociation and charge recombination. Here, authors report selenium substitution on central core of acceptors to improve dielectric constant, realizing devices with efficiency of 19.0%.
- Xinjun He
- , Feng Qi
- & Wallace C. H. Choy
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Article
| Open AccessRational molecular and device design enables organic solar cells approaching 20% efficiency
A systematic design of light-absorbing molecules is challenging for them to satisfy multiple key requirements for efficient solar cell application. Here, the authors optimize halogen substitution position in terminal groups of acceptors for realizing ternary cells with efficiency approaching 20%.
- Jiehao Fu
- , Qianguang Yang
- & Gang Li
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Article
| Open AccessThe role of interfacial donor–acceptor percolation in efficient and stable all-polymer solar cells
The underlying charge generation dynamics and structure-property relationships in organic solar cells are not fully understood. Here, the authors demonstrate that interfacial donor-acceptor percolation plays a key role in enabling both high charge generation efficiency and device stability.
- Zhen Wang
- , Yu Guo
- & Philip C. Y. Chow
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Article
| Open AccessDefect passivation in methylammonium/bromine free inverted perovskite solar cells using charge-modulated molecular bonding
Molecular passivation is promising for improving the performance and operation stability of perovskite solar cells. Here, authors employ piperazine dihydriodide to strengthen adhesion to MA-free perovskite via −NH2I and Mulliken charge distribution, realizing charge-regulated molecular passivation.
- Dhruba B. Khadka
- , Yasuhiro Shirai
- & Kenjiro Miyano
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Article
| Open AccessDown-selection of biomolecules to assemble “reverse micelle” with perovskites
Introducing biomaterials into semiconductors to manifest bio-mimetic functionality is impactful to trigger new enhancement mechanisms. Here, the authors utilize different types of biomolecules to regulate the perovskite crystal lattice and endow a mechanism for stabilizing the metastable lattice.
- Haodong Wu
- , Yuchen Hou
- & Kai Wang
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Article
| Open AccessUnraveling radiation damage and healing mechanisms in halide perovskites using energy-tuned dual irradiation dosing
Initial reports suggest unique radiation tolerance of perovskite solar cells. Here, the authors expose both n-i-p and p-i-n devices to low- and high-energy protons, providing a direct proof of radiation-induced efficiency recovery via tuning radiation-matter interactions in the devices.
- Ahmad R. Kirmani
- , Todd A. Byers
- & Joseph M. Luther
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Article
| Open AccessAccurate nowcasting of cloud cover at solar photovoltaic plants using geostationary satellite images
Accurate nowcasting of cloud cover or fraction and its movement remains a significant challenge for stable solar photovoltaic electricity generation. Here, the authors combine continuous radiance images with high spatio-temporal resolutions to develop a nowcasting algorithm for predicting cloud cover at a leading time of 0–4 h.
- Pan Xia
- , Lu Zhang
- & Shengjie Jia
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Article
| Open AccessElectrical performance of a fully reconfigurable series-parallel photovoltaic module
Reconfigurable modules have the potential to increase the energy yield of partially shaded photovoltaic systems. Here, the authors present outdoor test results of a full-scale prototype that can produce over 10% more energy than a module with fixed interconnections and six bypass diodes.
- Andres Calcabrini
- , Mirco Muttillo
- & Olindo Isabella
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Article
| Open AccessPrecise synthesis and photovoltaic properties of giant molecule acceptors
The synthesis of giant molecule acceptors with more than two subunits was challenging. Here, the authors present a stepwise precise synthetic method for acceptors of this type, explore and compare their photovoltaic performance to those of polymerized small molecule acceptor for organic solar cells.
- Hongmei Zhuo
- , Xiaojun Li
- & Yongfang Li
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| Open AccessControlling Selenization Equilibrium Enables High-Quality Kesterite Absorbers for Efficient Solar Cells
The preparation of high-quality Kesterite absorber is challenging due to the complexity and limited control of selenization reactions. Here, authors report a solid-liquid/solid-gas reaction for direct and rapid Kesterite formation, achieving certified total-area efficiency of 13.44% in solar cells.
- Xiao Xu
- , Jiazheng Zhou
- & Qingbo Meng
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Article
| Open AccessHyperbranched polymer functionalized flexible perovskite solar cells with mechanical robustness and reduced lead leakage
The low adhesive fracture energy of electron transport layer/perovskite interface makes it prone to delamination under mechanical stress. Here, authors develop polyamide-amine-based hyperbranched polymer to provide strong adhesion, leading to device efficiency of over 25% for perovskite solar cells.
- Zhihao Li
- , Chunmei Jia
- & Zhen Li
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Article
| Open AccessConcretized structural evolution supported assembly-controlled film-forming kinetics in slot-die coated organic photovoltaics
The film-forming kinetics for large-area devices remains unclear for organic solar cells. Here, the authors propose assembly-controlled kinetics with the assembly determined by molecular configuration and tuned via external effects, contributing to the screening of device fabrication conditions.
- Hao Zhang
- , Chenyang Tian
- & Zhixiang Wei
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Article
| Open AccessCarrier multiplication in perovskite solar cells with internal quantum efficiency exceeding 100%
While there has been evidence of strong carrier multiplication effects in halide perovskites, studies in actual solar cells are lacking. Here, the authors demonstrate such effects with a low threshold of 2Eg and a high efficiency of 99.4%, realizing unbiased internal quantum efficiency up to 160%.
- Yue Wang
- , Senyun Ye
- & Tze Chien Sum
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Article
| Open AccessInhibition of defect-induced α-to-δ phase transition for efficient and stable formamidinium perovskite solar cells
The effect of various defects on α-phase stability of formamidinium lead triiodide perovskite remains unclear. Here, the authors reveal the degradation pathway, introduce water-insoluble compact layer to suppress α-phase collapse, and achieve maximum efficiency over 25% for perovskite solar cells.
- Tian Chen
- , Jiangsheng Xie
- & Pingqi Gao
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Article
| Open AccessOrganic laser power converter for efficient wireless micro power transfer
Due to the adjustable bandgap, flexibility, absence of heavy metals and high power per weight, organic laser converters have unique advantages in wireless power transfer. Here, authors integrate organic laser power converters exhibiting efficiency over 36% at 660 nm with photon flux of 9.5 mW/cm2.
- Yafei Wang
- , Zhong Zheng
- & Jianhui Hou
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Article
| Open AccessResonant perovskite solar cells with extended band edge
Further extending the band edge of perovskite approaching the ideal bandgap of single-junction solar cell is essential to improve device efficiency. Here, the authors integrate optical resonances with perovskite solar cells to extend the band edge, achieving EQE-integrated current of 26.0 mA/cm2.
- Jiangang Feng
- , Xi Wang
- & Yi Hou
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Article
| Open AccessStability follows efficiency based on the analysis of a large perovskite solar cells ageing dataset
Stability issues remain a critical challenge for perovskite solar cells towards commercialisation. Here, the authors analyse a large homogeneous dataset of Maximum Power Point Tracking operational ageing data and find a correlation between maximum power conversion efficiency and its relative loss.
- Noor Titan Putri Hartono
- , Hans Köbler
- & Antonio Abate
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| Open AccessBioinspired “cage traps” for closed-loop lead management of perovskite solar cells under real-world contamination assessment
Potential lead contamination risk and environmental vulnerability risk impose a significant obstacle for the commercialization of perovskite solar cells. Here, the authors create a biomimetic cage traps to mitigate lead leakage and establish a sustainable closed-loop lead management process.
- Huaiqing Luo
- , Pengwei Li
- & Yanlin Song
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| Open AccessAll-polymer organic solar cells with nano-to-micron hierarchical morphology and large light receiving angle
A large light-receiving angle in planar solar cells is crucial for flexible installation of distributed photovoltaics. Here, authors report sequential-processed all-polymer solar cells with nano-sized phase separation integrated in micro-sized surface topology and maximum efficiency of over 19%.
- Rui Zeng
- , Lei Zhu
- & Feng Liu
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Article
| Open AccessPhenanthroline-carbolong interface suppress chemical interactions with active layer enabling long-time stable organic solar cells
Interfacial engineering is an effective strategy to improve efficiency of organic solar cells. Here, the authors report two alcohol-soluble cathode interfacial materials based on carbolong and achieve device efficiency of 21.7% and long thermal stability in perovskite/organic tandem solar cells.
- Xue Lai,
- , Shiyan Chen,
- & Feng He
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Article
| Open AccessMonolithically-grained perovskite solar cell with Mortise-Tenon structure for charge extraction balance
Disorder crystallization of perovskite and unbalanced charge extraction limit the performance of perovskite solar cells. Here, the authors develop self-polymerizing additive to form monolithic perovskite grains with mortise-tenon structure, achieving efficiency over 24% and long device stability.
- Fangfang Wang
- , Mubai Li
- & Tianshi Qin
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Article
| Open AccessGeometry design of tethered small-molecule acceptor enables highly stable and efficient polymer solar cells
The variation on molecular topology and aggregation behaviour of tethered small molecule acceptors is critical to device operating performance. Here, the authors designed two isomeric dimers via the thiophene-core engineering and realize device efficiency of 18.1% and long stability in solar cells.
- Yang Bai
- , Ze Zhang
- & Zhi-Guo Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessMastering morphology of non-fullerene acceptors towards long-term stable organic solar cells
Energetic traps accumulation aroused by thermal stress is a critical issue in organic solar cells. Here, authors integrate a wide bandgap polymer and two non-fullerene acceptors with different thermal and morphological properties, realizing a promising efficiency of 18.26% and long device stability.
- Kang An
- , Wenkai Zhong
- & Lei Ying
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Article
| Open AccessImproved photovoltaic performance and robustness of all-polymer solar cells enabled by a polyfullerene guest acceptor
Fullerene acceptors typically suffer from undesirable segregation and dimerization. Here, the authors report a poly(fullerene-alt-xylene) acceptor as guest component to facilitate charge transfer and suppress charge recombination, achieving efficiency of 18% for ternary all-polymer solar cells.
- Han Yu
- , Yan Wang
- & Shangshang Chen
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Article
| Open AccessLong-chain anionic surfactants enabling stable perovskite/silicon tandems with greatly suppressed stress corrosion
Stress-induced instability of perovskite layers is a critical hurdle for commercialization of perovskite solar cells. Here, the authors introduce a long-alkyl-chain anionic surfactant additive to chemically ameliorate crystallization kinetics and demonstrate devices with long operational stability.
- Xinlong Wang
- , Zhiqin Ying
- & Jichun Ye
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Article
| Open Access19.31% binary organic solar cell and low non-radiative recombination enabled by non-monotonic intermediate state transition
Non-radiative recombination loss suppression is critical for boosting performance of organic solar cells. Here, the authors regulate self-organization of bulk-heterojunction in a non-monotonic manner, and achieve device efficiency over 19% with low non-radiative recombination loss down to 0.168 eV.
- Jiehao Fu
- , Patrick W. K. Fong
- & Gang Li
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Article
| Open AccessRoom temperature nondestructive encapsulation via self-crosslinked fluorosilicone polymer enables damp heat-stable sustainable perovskite solar cells
Encapsulation engineering is an effective strategy to improve the stability of perovskite solar cells. Here, authors design and synthesize self-crosslinked fluorosilicone polymer gel for nondestructive encapsulation at room temperature, and maintain 98% of efficiency after 1000 h in damp heat test.
- Tong Wang
- , Jiabao Yang
- & Xuanhua Li
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Article
| Open AccessReshoring silicon photovoltaics manufacturing contributes to decarbonization and climate change mitigation
Reshoring silicon photovoltaic manufacturing back to the U.S. improves domestic competitiveness, advances decarbonization goals, and contributes to mitigating climate change.
- Haoyue Liang
- & Fengqi You
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Article
| Open AccessLifetime over 10000 hours for organic solar cells with Ir/IrOx electron-transporting layer
Long-term stability of organic solar cells is critical to promote practical applications. Here, the authors utilize iridium/iridium oxide nanoparticles as the electron-transporting material and realize enhanced device stabilities under thermal aging with T70 of over 10000 h.
- Yanxun Li
- , Bo Huang
- & Huiqiong Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessNear-infrared absorbing acceptor with suppressed triplet exciton generation enabling high performance tandem organic solar cells
Reducing energy loss of sub-cells is critical for high performance tandem organic solar cells. Here, the authors design and synthesize an ultra-narrow bandgap acceptor through replacement of terminal thiophene by selenophene in the central fused ring, achieving efficiency of 19% for tandem cells.
- Zhenrong Jia
- , Qing Ma
- & Yongfang Li
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| Open AccessEfficient and stable organic solar cells enabled by multicomponent photoactive layer based on one-pot polymerization
Degradation of kinetically bulk heterojunction film morphology in organic solar cells is a grand challenge for their practical application. Here, the authors design and synthesise multicomponent photoactive material by facile one-pot polymerization and achieve efficiency of 11.8% and T80 of 1000 h.
- Bin Liu
- , Huiliang Sun
- & Xugang Guo
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Article
| Open AccessOrientated crystallization of FA-based perovskite via hydrogen-bonded polymer network for efficient and stable solar cells
Formamidinum lead iodide perovskite solar cells commonly suffer from photoinduced phase segregation and humidity instability. Here, the authors design a multifunctional fluorinated additive to promote orientated crystallization of α-phase, and achieve maximum efficiency of 24.1% and T95 over 1000 h.
- Mubai Li
- , Riming Sun
- & Tianshi Qin
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Article
| Open AccessSuppressing non-radiative recombination in metal halide perovskite solar cells by synergistic effect of ferroelasticity
The origin of low non-radiative recombination in perovskites was not well-understood. Here, authors apply electric field to manipulate ferroelastic lattice deformation to study non-radiative recombination and strain in twinning tetragonal phase, achieving an increased open-circuit voltage to 1.26 V.
- Wei Qin
- , Wajid Ali
- & Can Li
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Article
| Open AccessBig data driven perovskite solar cell stability analysis
A direct comparison of stability data of perovskite solar cells is challenging due to widely different measurement conditions and reporting standards. Here, the authors propose a single indicator to assess the stability under different environmental stress and analyse the data of over 7000 devices.
- Zhuang Zhang
- , Huanhuan Wang
- & Jingshan Luo
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Article
| Open AccessConstructing molecular bridge for high-efficiency and stable perovskite solar cells based on P3HT
The poor contact at poly(3-hexylthiophene)/perovskite interface has led to unsatisfactory performance in solar cells. To resolve this issue, the authors introduce a molecular bridge to form a charge transport channel, realizing devices with maximum efficiency value of 22.87% and long-term stability.
- Dongdong Xu
- , Zhiming Gong
- & Jinwei Gao
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Article
| Open AccessImportance of structural hinderance in performance–stability equilibrium of organic photovoltaics
The intrinsic trade-off between efficiency and stability is a challenging issue for organic photovoltaics. Here, the authors develop non-fullerene acceptors with tailored side-group hindrance and backbone planarity and realise efficiency of 18.3% and good stability for xylene-processed solar cells
- Baobing Fan
- , Wei Gao
- & Alex K.-Y. Jen
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Article
| Open AccessHigh performance polymerized small molecule acceptor by synergistic optimization on π-bridge linker and side chain
The modification of small molecule acceptor building block and π−bridge linker is effective to improve photovoltaic performance. Here, the authors replace linear with branched alkyl chains and introduce difluorene-substituted linker to realise all-polymer solar cells with efficiency of 17.24%.
- Guangpei Sun
- , Xin Jiang
- & Yongfang Li
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Article
| Open AccessMoisture-triggered fast crystallization enables efficient and stable perovskite solar cells
Perovskite structure is disturbed by environmental moisture, limiting the device performance. Here, Wei et al. monitor the effect of moisture during the growth by N2-protected characterization techniques, and obtain an operationally stable perovskite solar cell with efficiency approaching 24%.
- Kaikai Liu
- , Yujie Luo
- & Zhanhua Wei
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Article
| Open AccessStable solar water splitting with wettable organic-layer-protected silicon photocathodes
Preparation of inorganic protective layers for photoelectrodes requires high-quality deposition techniques. Here, the authors report a spin-coated organic protective layer that enables Si photocathodes to realize stable solar water splitting.
- Bo Wu
- , Tuo Wang
- & Jinlong Gong
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Article
| Open AccessAmmonia for post-healing of formamidinium-based Perovskite films
Solvents used for perovskite film fabrication not only dissolve the precursors but also play a role in the crystallization process. Here, authors study the role of transamination reactions in the underlying degradation mechanism of formamidinium-containing perovskites in aliphatic amines environment.
- Zhipeng Li
- , Xiao Wang
- & Shuping Pang
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Article
| Open AccessLong-range charge carrier mobility in metal halide perovskite thin-films and single crystals via transient photo-conductivity
Charge carrier mobility is a fundamental property of semiconductors. The authors of this study demonstrate a novel way to estimate long-range mobilities of perovskite thin-films and single crystals by taking early-time carrier dynamics into account.
- Jongchul Lim
- , Manuel Kober-Czerny
- & Henry J. Snaith
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Article
| Open AccessTraps and transport resistance are the next frontiers for stable non-fullerene acceptor solar cells
Long operational stability is essential to commercialisation of organic solar cells. Here, the authors investigate the thermal degradation of inverted photovoltaic devices based on PM6:Y6 non-fullerene system to reveal that trap-induced transport resistance is primarily responsible for the drop in fill factor.
- Christopher Wöpke
- , Clemens Göhler
- & Carsten Deibel
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Article
| Open AccessLow-cost synthesis of small molecule acceptors makes polymer solar cells commercially viable
The high−cost of the acceptor-donor-acceptor structured small molecule acceptors impedes its commercial viability for polymer solar cells. To address this problem, here, the authors developed a simple and cheap boron trifluoride etherate-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation with high reaction efficiency.
- Hongyuan Fu
- , Jia Yao
- & Yongfang Li
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Article
| Open AccessHydrogenated Cs2AgBiBr6 for significantly improved efficiency of lead-free inorganic double perovskite solar cell
Though inorganic perovskites are an attractive, non-toxic and stable alternative to organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells, realizing efficient devices remains a challenge. Here, the authors report hydrogenated lead-free inorganic perovskite solar cells with enhanced power conversion efficiency.
- Zeyu Zhang
- , Qingde Sun
- & Manling Sui