Efficient hole-blocking layer-free planar halide perovskite thin-film solar cells

Efficient lead halide perovskite solar cells use hole-blocking layers to help collection of photogenerated electrons and to achieve high open-circuit voltages. Here, we report the realization of efficient perovskite solar cells grown directly on fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated substrates without using any hole-blocking layers. With ultraviolet–ozone treatment of the substrates, a planar Au/hole-transporting material/CH3NH3PbI3-xClx/substrate cell processed by a solution method has achieved a power conversion efficiency of over 14% and an open-circuit voltage of 1.06 V measured under reverse voltage scan. The open-circuit voltage is as high as that of our best reference cell with a TiO2 hole-blocking layer. Besides ultraviolet–ozone treatment, we find that involving Cl in the synthesis is another key for realizing high open-circuit voltage perovskite solar cells without hole-blocking layers. Our results suggest that TiO2 may not be the ultimate interfacial material for achieving high-performance perovskite solar cells. Lead halide perovskite solar cells use hole-blocking layers to allow a separate collection of positive and negative charge carriers and to achieve high-operation voltages. Here, the authors demonstrate efficient lead halide perovskite solar cells that avoid using this extra layer.