Selective templating growth of chemically inert low-dimensional interfaces for perovskite solar cells

Haixia Rao; Senyun Ye; Teddy Salim; Rishikanta Mayengbam; Yuanyuan Guo; Minjun Feng; Lifei Xi; Zhihao Yen; Rajendra Salim; Yue Wang; Rui Cai; Xingchi Xiao; Bo Wang; Huajun He; Tze Chien Sum; Yeng Ming Lam

doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01815-8

Selective templating growth of chemically inert low-dimensional interfaces for perovskite solar cells

Haixia Rao, Senyun Ye, Teddy Salim, Rishikanta Mayengbam, Yuanyuan Guo, Minjun Feng, Lifei Xi, Zhihao Yen, Rajendra Salim, Yue Wang, Rui Cai, Xingchi Xiao, Bo Wang, Huajun He, Tze Chien Sum^*, Yeng Ming Lam^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Nanyang Technological University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Chemically inert low-dimensional (CI LD) halogenometallate interfaces incorporating low-reactivity bulky cations could address the trade-off between efficiency and stability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, their formation is hindered by the low reactivity of their bulky cations and solubility constraints of their precursors in orthogonal solvents compatible with underlying perovskites. Here we introduce a selective templating growth strategy that leverages conventional metastable LD interfaces as templates to drive the growth of more stable CI LD interfaces through an organic cation exchange process. Our prototype PSCs achieve efficiencies of 25.1% over an active area of 1.235 cm²—among the highest reported for 1-cm² PSCs. The PSCs retain over 93% and 98% of their initial efficiency after 1,000 h of operation and 1,100 h of thermal ageing at 85 °C, respectively. The versatility of this strategy unlocks access to CI LD interfaces, paving the way for the development of more efficient and stable PSCs.

Original language	English
Journal	Nature Energy
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-025-01815-8
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2025
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2025.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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10.1038/s41560-025-01815-8

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title = "Selective templating growth of chemically inert low-dimensional interfaces for perovskite solar cells",

abstract = "Chemically inert low-dimensional (CI LD) halogenometallate interfaces incorporating low-reactivity bulky cations could address the trade-off between efficiency and stability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, their formation is hindered by the low reactivity of their bulky cations and solubility constraints of their precursors in orthogonal solvents compatible with underlying perovskites. Here we introduce a selective templating growth strategy that leverages conventional metastable LD interfaces as templates to drive the growth of more stable CI LD interfaces through an organic cation exchange process. Our prototype PSCs achieve efficiencies of 25.1\% over an active area of 1.235 cm2—among the highest reported for 1-cm2 PSCs. The PSCs retain over 93\% and 98\% of their initial efficiency after 1,000 h of operation and 1,100 h of thermal ageing at 85 °C, respectively. The versatility of this strategy unlocks access to CI LD interfaces, paving the way for the development of more efficient and stable PSCs.",

author = "Haixia Rao and Senyun Ye and Teddy Salim and Rishikanta Mayengbam and Yuanyuan Guo and Minjun Feng and Lifei Xi and Zhihao Yen and Rajendra Salim and Yue Wang and Rui Cai and Xingchi Xiao and Bo Wang and Huajun He and Sum, \{Tze Chien\} and Lam, \{Yeng Ming\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2025.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1038/s41560-025-01815-8",

language = "English",

journal = "Nature Energy",

issn = "2058-7546",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Selective templating growth of chemically inert low-dimensional interfaces for perovskite solar cells

AU - Rao, Haixia

AU - Ye, Senyun

AU - Salim, Teddy

AU - Mayengbam, Rishikanta

AU - Guo, Yuanyuan

AU - Feng, Minjun

AU - Xi, Lifei

AU - Yen, Zhihao

AU - Salim, Rajendra

AU - Wang, Yue

AU - Cai, Rui

AU - Xiao, Xingchi

AU - Wang, Bo

AU - He, Huajun

AU - Sum, Tze Chien

AU - Lam, Yeng Ming

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Chemically inert low-dimensional (CI LD) halogenometallate interfaces incorporating low-reactivity bulky cations could address the trade-off between efficiency and stability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, their formation is hindered by the low reactivity of their bulky cations and solubility constraints of their precursors in orthogonal solvents compatible with underlying perovskites. Here we introduce a selective templating growth strategy that leverages conventional metastable LD interfaces as templates to drive the growth of more stable CI LD interfaces through an organic cation exchange process. Our prototype PSCs achieve efficiencies of 25.1% over an active area of 1.235 cm2—among the highest reported for 1-cm2 PSCs. The PSCs retain over 93% and 98% of their initial efficiency after 1,000 h of operation and 1,100 h of thermal ageing at 85 °C, respectively. The versatility of this strategy unlocks access to CI LD interfaces, paving the way for the development of more efficient and stable PSCs.

AB - Chemically inert low-dimensional (CI LD) halogenometallate interfaces incorporating low-reactivity bulky cations could address the trade-off between efficiency and stability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, their formation is hindered by the low reactivity of their bulky cations and solubility constraints of their precursors in orthogonal solvents compatible with underlying perovskites. Here we introduce a selective templating growth strategy that leverages conventional metastable LD interfaces as templates to drive the growth of more stable CI LD interfaces through an organic cation exchange process. Our prototype PSCs achieve efficiencies of 25.1% over an active area of 1.235 cm2—among the highest reported for 1-cm2 PSCs. The PSCs retain over 93% and 98% of their initial efficiency after 1,000 h of operation and 1,100 h of thermal ageing at 85 °C, respectively. The versatility of this strategy unlocks access to CI LD interfaces, paving the way for the development of more efficient and stable PSCs.

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U2 - 10.1038/s41560-025-01815-8

DO - 10.1038/s41560-025-01815-8

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105012383093

SN - 2058-7546

JO - Nature Energy

JF - Nature Energy

ER -

Selective templating growth of chemically inert low-dimensional interfaces for perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

UN SDGs

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