Bulky ammonium iodide and in-situ formed 2D Ruddlesden-Popper layer enhances the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells

The practical applications of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are limited by the further improvement of their stability and performance. Interface engineering is a promising strategy to solve these pain points. Herein, we design (R)-(-)-1-cyclohexylethylamine iodide (R-CEAI), composed of positively charged hydrophobic R-CEA+ and negatively charged I–, to post-treat the interface of 3D mixed-cation/halide perovskite with assist one of isopropyl alcohol (IPA). R-CEAI treatment not only passivates the defects at surface and grain boundaries of perovskite, but also in-situ grows quasi 2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite at the interface between 3D perovskite and hole transport layer, which reduces trap density of states, tunes energy level and alleviates lattice distortion. As a result, R-CEAI treated 2D/3D PSCs yield a champion PCE of 22.52%, with an improved open-circuit voltage of 1.195 V and retain 84.34% of their initial efficiency in long-term stability test, while the pristine device provides a PCE of 19.43% with only 54.30% retention.