In Situ Epitaxial Quantum Dot Passivation Enables Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

We report an advanced passivation strategy for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by introducing core–shell structured perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), composed of methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr<sub>3</sub>) cores and tetraoctylammonium lead bromide (tetra-OAPbBr<sub>3</sub>)...

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Main Authors: Yahya A. Alzahrani, Raghad M. Alqahtani, Raghad A. Alqarni, Jenan R. Alnakhli, Shahad A. Anezi, Ibtisam S. Almalki, Ghazal S. Yafi, Sultan M. Alenzi, Abdulaziz Aljuwayr, Abdulmalik M. Alessa, Huda Alkhaldi, Anwar Q. Alanazi, Masaud Almalki, Masfer H. Alkahtani
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/978
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author Yahya A. Alzahrani
Raghad M. Alqahtani
Raghad A. Alqarni
Jenan R. Alnakhli
Shahad A. Anezi
Ibtisam S. Almalki
Ghazal S. Yafi
Sultan M. Alenzi
Abdulaziz Aljuwayr
Abdulmalik M. Alessa
Huda Alkhaldi
Anwar Q. Alanazi
Masaud Almalki
Masfer H. Alkahtani
author_facet Yahya A. Alzahrani
Raghad M. Alqahtani
Raghad A. Alqarni
Jenan R. Alnakhli
Shahad A. Anezi
Ibtisam S. Almalki
Ghazal S. Yafi
Sultan M. Alenzi
Abdulaziz Aljuwayr
Abdulmalik M. Alessa
Huda Alkhaldi
Anwar Q. Alanazi
Masaud Almalki
Masfer H. Alkahtani
author_sort Yahya A. Alzahrani
collection DOAJ
description We report an advanced passivation strategy for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by introducing core–shell structured perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), composed of methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr<sub>3</sub>) cores and tetraoctylammonium lead bromide (tetra-OAPbBr<sub>3</sub>) shells, during the antisolvent-assisted crystallization step. The epitaxial compatibility between the PQDs and the host perovskite matrix enables effective passivation of grain boundaries and surface defects, thereby suppressing non-radiative recombination and facilitating more efficient charge transport. At an optimal PQD concentration of 15 mg/mL, the modified PSCs demonstrated a remarkable increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 19.2% to 22.85%. This enhancement is accompanied by improved device metrics, including a rise in open-circuit voltage (Voc) from 1.120 V to 1.137 V, short-circuit current density (Jsc) from 24.5 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> to 26.1 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, and fill factor (FF) from 70.1% to 77%. Spectral response analysis via incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) revealed enhanced photoresponse in the 400–750 nm wavelength range. Additionally, long-term stability assessments showed that PQD-passivated devices retained more than 92% of their initial PCE after 900 h under ambient conditions, outperforming control devices which retained ~80%. These findings underscore the potential of in situ integrated PQDs as a scalable and effective passivation strategy for next-generation high-efficiency and stable perovskite photovoltaics.
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spelling doaj-art-147a4caa96fa448db1bf68d1086f792b2025-08-20T03:16:42ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-06-01151397810.3390/nano15130978In Situ Epitaxial Quantum Dot Passivation Enables Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar CellsYahya A. Alzahrani0Raghad M. Alqahtani1Raghad A. Alqarni2Jenan R. Alnakhli3Shahad A. Anezi4Ibtisam S. Almalki5Ghazal S. Yafi6Sultan M. Alenzi7Abdulaziz Aljuwayr8Abdulmalik M. Alessa9Huda Alkhaldi10Anwar Q. Alanazi11Masaud Almalki12Masfer H. Alkahtani13Future Energy Technologies Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physics, College of Science and Humanities, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Jubail 31441, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physics, College of Science and Humanities, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Jubail 31441, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physics, College of Science and Humanities, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Jubail 31441, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physics, College of Science and Humanities, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Jubail 31441, Saudi ArabiaFuture Energy Technologies Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Chemistry, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaFuture Energy Technologies Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaFuture Energy Technologies Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaFuture Energy Technologies Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physics, College of Science and Humanities, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Jubail 31441, Saudi ArabiaFuture Energy Technologies Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaFuture Energy Technologies Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaFuture Energy Technologies Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaWe report an advanced passivation strategy for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by introducing core–shell structured perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), composed of methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr<sub>3</sub>) cores and tetraoctylammonium lead bromide (tetra-OAPbBr<sub>3</sub>) shells, during the antisolvent-assisted crystallization step. The epitaxial compatibility between the PQDs and the host perovskite matrix enables effective passivation of grain boundaries and surface defects, thereby suppressing non-radiative recombination and facilitating more efficient charge transport. At an optimal PQD concentration of 15 mg/mL, the modified PSCs demonstrated a remarkable increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 19.2% to 22.85%. This enhancement is accompanied by improved device metrics, including a rise in open-circuit voltage (Voc) from 1.120 V to 1.137 V, short-circuit current density (Jsc) from 24.5 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> to 26.1 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, and fill factor (FF) from 70.1% to 77%. Spectral response analysis via incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) revealed enhanced photoresponse in the 400–750 nm wavelength range. Additionally, long-term stability assessments showed that PQD-passivated devices retained more than 92% of their initial PCE after 900 h under ambient conditions, outperforming control devices which retained ~80%. These findings underscore the potential of in situ integrated PQDs as a scalable and effective passivation strategy for next-generation high-efficiency and stable perovskite photovoltaics.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/978perovskite quantum dots (PQDs)core–shell structureepitaxial passivationperovskite solar cells (PSCs)photovoltaic performance enhancement
spellingShingle Yahya A. Alzahrani
Raghad M. Alqahtani
Raghad A. Alqarni
Jenan R. Alnakhli
Shahad A. Anezi
Ibtisam S. Almalki
Ghazal S. Yafi
Sultan M. Alenzi
Abdulaziz Aljuwayr
Abdulmalik M. Alessa
Huda Alkhaldi
Anwar Q. Alanazi
Masaud Almalki
Masfer H. Alkahtani
In Situ Epitaxial Quantum Dot Passivation Enables Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Nanomaterials
perovskite quantum dots (PQDs)
core–shell structure
epitaxial passivation
perovskite solar cells (PSCs)
photovoltaic performance enhancement
title In Situ Epitaxial Quantum Dot Passivation Enables Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
title_full In Situ Epitaxial Quantum Dot Passivation Enables Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
title_fullStr In Situ Epitaxial Quantum Dot Passivation Enables Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
title_full_unstemmed In Situ Epitaxial Quantum Dot Passivation Enables Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
title_short In Situ Epitaxial Quantum Dot Passivation Enables Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
title_sort in situ epitaxial quantum dot passivation enables highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells
topic perovskite quantum dots (PQDs)
core–shell structure
epitaxial passivation
perovskite solar cells (PSCs)
photovoltaic performance enhancement
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/978
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