Perovskite Grains Embraced in a Soft Fullerene Network Make Highly Efficient Flexible Solar Cells with Superior Mechanical Stability

Abstract

Halide perovskite films processed from solution at low-temperature offer promising opportunities to make flexible solar cells. However, the brittleness of perovskite films is an issue for mechanical stability in flexible devices. Herein, photo-crosslinked [6,6]-phenylC₆₁ -butyric oxetane dendron ester (C-PCBOD) is used to improve the mechanical stability of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃ ) perovskite films. Also, it is demonstrated that C-PCBOD passivates the grain boundaries, which reduces the formation of trap states and enhances the environmental stability of MAPbI₃ . Thus, MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells are prepared on solid and flexible substrates with record efficiencies of 20.4% and 18.1%, respectively, which are among the highest ever reported for MAPbI₃ on both flexible and solid substrates. The result of this work provides a step improvement toward stable and efficient flexible perovskite solar cells.