MXene-Regulated Perovskite Vertical Growth for High-Performance Solar Cells

Defects at the interfaces of perovskite (PVK) thin films are the main factors responsible for instability and low photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of PVK solar cells (PSCs). Here, a SnO₂-MXene composite electron transport layer (ETL) is used in PSCs to improve interfacial contact and passivate defects at the SnO₂/perovskite interface. The introduced MXene regulates SnO₂ dispersion and induces a vertical growth of PVK. The lattice matching of MXene and perovskite suppresses the concentration of interfacial stress, thereby obtaining a perovskite film with low defects. Compared with SnO₂-based device, the PCE of SnO₂-MXene-based device is improved by 15 % and its short-circuit current is up to 25.07 mA cm⁻². Furthermore, unencapsulated device maintained about 90 % of its initial efficiency even after 500 h of storage at 30–40 % relative humidity in ambient air. The composite ETL strategy provides a route to engineer interfacial passivation between metal halide perovskites and ETLs.