Interfacial Strain Release from the WS₂/CsPbBr₃ van der Waals Heterostructure for 1.7 V Voltage All‐Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract

Perovskite lattice distortion induced by residual tensile strain from the thermal expansion mismatch between the electron-transporting layer (ETL) and perovskite film causes a sluggish charge extraction and transfer dynamics in all-inorganic CsPbBr₃ perovskite solar cells (PSCs) because of their higher crystallization temperatures and thermal expansion coefficients. Herein, the interfacial strain is released by fabricating a WS₂ /CsPbBr₃ van der Waals heterostructure owing to their matched crystal lattice structure and the atomically smooth dangling bond-free surface to act as a lubricant between ETL and CsPbBr₃ perovskite. Arising from the strain-released interface and condensed perovskite lattice, the best device achieves an efficiency of 10.65 % with an ultrahigh open-circuit voltage of 1.70 V and significantly improved stability under persistent light irradiation and humidity (80 %) attack over 120 days.