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In-situ boundary bridging unlocks multi-grain-domain carrier diffusion in polycrystalline metal halide perovskites

Author

Listed:
  • Minhuan Wang

    (Dalian University of Technology
    Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Yanfeng Yin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Pengfei Wang

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Wenzhe Shang

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Yaling Han

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Jing Gao

    (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Kangshuo Hui

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Tao Feng

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Ummugulsum Gunes

    (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Tristan Georges

    (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Lyndon Emsley

    (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Peng Xu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jiming Bian

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Jing Cao

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Zhehan Ying

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou))

  • Rui Cai

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Jingyi Xiao

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Shengye Jin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaoqing Jiang

    (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Shaik M. Zakeeruddin

    (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Wenming Tian

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Likai Zheng

    (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Yantao Shi

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Michael Grätzel

    (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL))

Abstract

Charge transport and extraction in polycrystalline perovskite films are often hindered by inefficient carrier transfer across grain domain boundaries (GDBs). Herein, we present a universal post-treatment strategy leveraging supramolecular crown ether-assisted slow release and precise delivery of Rb⁺ cations to GDBs, achieving in-situ GDB bridging. The solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), transmission electron microscopic (TEM), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) analyses confirm that Rb+ forms a non-perovskite phase, primarily localized at the surface and GDBs. Ultrafast time-resolved photoluminescence mapping revealed accelerated carrier diffusion across the grain boundaries for the Rb+-treated perovskite thin films which enables photo-generated charge carriers to travels over two grain domain boundaries before recombination. As a result, perovskite solar cells treated with this strategy achieved a champion efficiency of 26.02% (certified as 25.77%) and demonstrated remarkable stability, retaining 99.2% of their initial efficiency after 1300 h of continuous one-sun illumination under maximum power point tracking (ISOS-L-1I).

Suggested Citation

  • Minhuan Wang & Yanfeng Yin & Pengfei Wang & Wenzhe Shang & Yaling Han & Jing Gao & Kangshuo Hui & Tao Feng & Ummugulsum Gunes & Tristan Georges & Lyndon Emsley & Peng Xu & Jiming Bian & Jing Cao & Zhe, 2025. "In-situ boundary bridging unlocks multi-grain-domain carrier diffusion in polycrystalline metal halide perovskites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63777-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63777-5
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