Homogenized NiO x nanoparticles for improved hole transport in inverted perovskite solar cells

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is still lagging behind that of conventional PSCs, in part because of inefficient carrier transport and poor morphology of hole transport layers (HTLs). We optimized self-assembly of [4-(3,6-dimethyl-9H-carbazol-9-yl)butyl]phosphonic acid (Me-4PACz) onto nickel oxide (NiO x ) nanoparticles as an HTL through treatment with hydrogen peroxide, which created a more uniform dispersion of nanoparticles with high conductivity attributed to the formation of Ni 3+ as well as surface hydroxyl groups for bonding. A 25.2% certified PCE for a mask size of 0.074 square centimeters was obtained. This device maintained 85.4% of the initial PCE…