Reinforcing self-assembly of hole transport molecules for stable inverted perovskite solar cells

Power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been improved by the use of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) hole transport layer. Long-term stability of PSCs requires keeping the SAM compact under the perovskite layer during operation. We found that strong polar solvents in the perovskite precursor desorb the SAM if it is anchored on substrates by hydrogen-bonded, rather than covalently bonded, hydroxyl groups. We used atomic-layer deposition to create an indium tin oxide substrate with a fully covalent hydroxyl-covered surface for SAM anchoring, as well as a SAM with a trimethoxysilane group that exhibited strong tridentate anchoring to the substrate. The resulting PSCs…