Enhanced perovskite materials for photovoltaic devices

Abstract

The perovskite material has a perovskite crystal lattice having the general formula CxMyXz and 1,4-diammoniumbutane cations disposed within or on the surface of the perovskite crystal lattice, where x, y, and z are real numbers. C has one or more cations selected from the group consisting of Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, ammonium, formamidinium, guanidinium, and ethenetetramine. M has one or more metals each selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, Zr, and combinations thereof. C has one or more cations selected from the group consisting of Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, ammonium, formamidinium, guanidinium, and ethenetetramine. M has one or more metals each selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr, and combinations thereof. X has one or more anions each selected from the group consisting of halides, sulfides, selenides, and combinations thereof.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 770,313, entitled "Enhanced Perovskite Materials for Photovoltaic Devices," filed November 21, 2018. This application relates to enhanced perovskite materials for photovoltaic devices. [Background technology]

[0002] The use of photovoltaics (PV) to generate electricity from solar energy or radiation may offer many advantages including, for example, power source, low or zero radiation, power generation independent from the power grid, durable physical construction (no moving parts), stable and reliable systems, modular construction, relatively rapid deployment, safe manufacture and use, and good public opinion and acceptance of use. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] PV can incorporate a layer of a perovskite material as a photoactive layer that generates electricity when exposed to light. Some photoactive layers can degrade due to environmental factors including temperature, humidity, and oxidation. Therefore, improvements in the durability and efficiency of perovskite materials are desirable.

[0004] The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, who may make numerous modifications thereto while remaining within the spirit of the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems with existing solutions, improved perovskite materials and methods of forming such materials are disclosed.

[0006] In one embodiment, the perovskite material is x M y X zThe perovskite crystal lattice has a general formula: where x, y, and z are real numbers. The bulky organic cations are present at the surface or near the grain boundaries of the perovskite crystal lattice. C includes one or more cations selected from the group consisting of Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, ammonium, formamidinium, guanidinium, and ethenetetramine. M includes one or more metals each selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr, and combinations thereof. X includes one or more anions each selected from the group consisting of halides, pseudohalides, chalcogenides (tellurides, oxides, sulfides, and selenides), and combinations thereof.

[0007] In certain embodiments, the tail group of the at least one bulky organic cation is not chemically connected to the surface or grain boundaries of the perovskite material.

[0008] In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cations reside within the perovskite material crystal lattice less than 50 nm from a surface or grain boundary of the perovskite material crystal lattice.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation is selected from the group consisting of n-butylammonium, benzylammonium, butane-1,4-diammonium, pentylammonium, hexylammonium, poly(vinylammonium), phenylethylammonium, 3-phenyl-1-propylammonium, 4-phenyl-1-butylammonium, 1,3-dimethylbutylammonium, 3,3-dimethylbutylammonium, and 1-octylammonium, and combinations thereof.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation comprises 1-butylammonium.

[0011] In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation comprises 1-hexylammonium.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation comprises 1-octylammonium.

[0013] In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation comprises benzylammonium.

[0014] In certain embodiments, the crystal lattice of the perovskite material has a cubic structure.

[0015] In one embodiment, the perovskite material comprises a formamidinium lead iodide perovskite material, which has benzylammonium cations present at the surface or near the grain boundaries of the formamidinium lead iodide perovskite material.

[0016] In certain embodiments, at least one benzyl group of the benzylammonium cation is not chemically connected to the grain boundaries or surface of the formamidinium lead iodide perovskite material.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the benzylammonium cations are located within the formamidinium lead perovskite material less than 50 nm from the surface or grain boundaries of the formamidinium lead perovskite material.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the formamidinium lead iodide perovskite material has a cubic crystal structure.

[0019] In an embodiment, a method of forming a perovskite material includes depositing a lead salt precursor on a substrate to form a lead salt thin film, depositing a bulky organic cation solution on the lead salt thin film, depositing a second salt precursor on the lead salt thin film to form a perovskite precursor thin film, and annealing the substrate to form the perovskite material.

[0020] In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation solution comprises a bulky organic cation selected from the group consisting of n-butylammonium, benzylammonium, butane-1,4-diammonium, pentylammonium, hexylammonium, poly(vinylammonium), phenylethylammonium, 3-phenyl-1-propylammonium, 4-phenyl-1-butylammonium, 1,3-dimethylbutylammonium, 3,3-dimethylbutylammonium, 1-octylammonium, ammonium-functionalized perylene, and combinations thereof.

[0021] In a particular embodiment, the bulky organic cation solution comprises 1-butylammonium.

[0022] In certain embodiments, the bulk organic cation solution comprises benzylammonium.

[0023] In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation solution has a bulky organic cation concentration between 0.01-0.1M.

[0024] In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation solution has a bulky organic cation concentration between 0.03-0.05M.

[0025] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor, the second salt precursor, and the bulk cation solution are deposited by spin coating, slot-die printing, sputtering, PE-CVD, thermal evaporation, or spray coating.

[0026] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor comprises one or more lead salts selected from the group consisting of lead (II) iodide, lead (II) thiocyanate, lead (II) chloride, lead (II) bromide, and combinations thereof.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor comprises lead(II) iodide.

[0028] In certain embodiments, the second salt precursor comprises formamidinium iodide, formamidinium thiocyanate, or guanidinium thiocyanate.

[0029] In certain embodiments, the second salt precursor comprises formamidinium iodide.

[0030] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor comprises one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof.

[0031] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor comprises one or more additives selected from the group consisting of amino acids, 5-aminovaleric acid hydroiodide, 1,8-diiodooctane, 1,8-dithiooctane, formamidinium halides, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methylammonium halides, water, and combinations thereof.

[0032] In a particular embodiment, the lead salt precursor has a molar ratio of PbI2:PbCl2 of 90:10 dissolved in anhydrous dimethylformamide.

[0033] In certain embodiments, the annealing is performed in an atmosphere selected from the group consisting of ambient air, a controlled humidity environment, pure argon, pure nitrogen, pure oxygen, pure hydrogen, pure helium, pure neon, pure krypton, pure CO2, and combinations thereof.

[0034] In a particular embodiment, the annealing is performed at a temperature of 50°C or more and 300°C or less.

[0035] In a particular embodiment, annealing in a controlled humidity environment is performed at 0 g HO / m3 More than air, 20g H2O / m 3 It is carried out at an absolute humidity below that of air.

[0036] In a particular embodiment, annealing in a controlled humidity environment is performed at about 4-7 g HO / m 3 It is caused by the absolute humidity of the air.

[0037] In some embodiments, the perovskite material is x M y X z The perovskite crystal lattice has a general formula of: where x, y, and z are real numbers. The 1,4-diammonium butane cations are disposed within or on the surface of the perovskite crystal lattice. C includes one or more cations selected from the group consisting of Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, ammonium, formamidinium, guanidinium, and ethenetetramine, M includes one or more metals each selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ga, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr, and combinations thereof, and X includes one or more anions each selected from the group consisting of halides, pseudohalides, chalcogenides, and combinations thereof.

[0038] In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane cations have a concentration in the perovskite material between 1 mol % and 20 mol %.

[0039] In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane cation has a concentration in the perovskite material of between 1 mol % and 5 mol %.

[0040] In a particular embodiment, the 1,4-diammonium butane cation has a concentration of about 5 mol % in the perovskite material.

[0041] In certain embodiments, C comprises formamidinium, M comprises lead, and X comprises iodide.

[0042] In certain embodiments, the crystal lattice of the perovskite material has a cubic crystal structure.

[0043] In certain embodiments, the ammonium groups of the 1,4-diammonium butane cation are substituted for formamidinium ions in the perovskite crystal lattice.

[0044] In some embodiments, the perovskite material comprises a formamidinium lead iodide perovskite material and 1,4-diammonium butane cations disposed within or on the formamidinium lead iodide perovskite material.

[0045] In certain embodiments, the ammonium groups of the 1,4-diammonium butane cation replace the formamidinium ions in the perovskite crystal lattice.

[0046] In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane cations have a concentration in the perovskite material between 1 mol % and 20 mol %.

[0047] In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane cation has a concentration in the perovskite material of between 1 mol % and 5 mol %.

[0048] In a particular embodiment, the 1,4-diammonium butane cation has a concentration of about 5 mol % in the perovskite material.

[0049] In certain embodiments, the formamidinium lead iodide perovskite material has a cubic crystal structure.

[0050] In an embodiment, a method of depositing a perovskite material includes depositing a lead salt precursor on a substrate to form a lead salt thin film. The lead salt precursor includes a lead salt and a 1,4-diammonium butane salt. A second salt precursor may then be deposited on the lead salt thin film to form a perovskite precursor thin film. The substrate and the perovskite precursor thin film may then be annealed to form a perovskite material.

[0051] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor has a 1,4-diammoniumbutane concentration between 1 mol % and 20 mol %.

[0052] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor has a 1,4-diammoniumbutane concentration between 1 mol % and 5 mol %.

[0053] In a particular embodiment, the lead salt precursor has a 1,4-diammoniumbutane concentration of about 5 mol %.

[0054] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor comprises one or more lead salts selected from the group consisting of lead(II) iodide, lead(II) thiocyanate, lead(II) chloride, lead(II) bromide, and combinations thereof.

[0055] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor comprises lead(II) iodide.

[0056] In certain embodiments, the second salt precursor comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of formamidinium iodide, formamidinium thiocyanate, guanidinium thiocyanate, and combinations thereof.

[0057] In certain embodiments, the second salt precursor comprises formamidinium iodide.

[0058] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor comprises one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof.

[0059] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor comprises one or more additives selected from the group consisting of amino acids, 5-aminovaleric acid hydroiodide, 1,8-diiodooctane, 1,8-dithiooctane, formamidinium halides, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methylammonium halides, water, and combinations thereof.

[0060] In a particular embodiment, the lead salt precursor has a molar ratio of PbI2:PbCl2 of 90:10 dissolved in anhydrous dimethylformamide.

[0061] In certain embodiments, the annealing is performed in an atmosphere selected from the group consisting of ambient air, a controlled humidity environment, pure argon, pure nitrogen, pure oxygen, pure hydrogen, pure helium, pure neon, pure krypton, pure CO2, and combinations thereof.

[0062] In a particular embodiment, the annealing is performed at a temperature of 50°C or more and 300°C or less.

[0063] In a particular embodiment, annealing in a controlled humidity environment is performed at 0 g HO / m 3 More than air, 20g H2O / m 3 It is carried out at an absolute humidity below that of air.

[0064] In a particular embodiment, annealing in a controlled humidity environment is performed at about 4-7 g HO / m 3 It is carried out on the absolute humidity of the air.

[0065] In an embodiment, a method of depositing a perovskite material includes depositing a lead salt precursor on a substrate to form a lead salt thin film. A 1,4-diammonium butane salt precursor may then be deposited on the lead salt thin film. A third salt precursor may then be deposited on the lead salt thin film to form a perovskite precursor thin film. The substrate and the perovskite precursor thin film may then be annealed to form the perovskite material.

[0066] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor has a 1,4-diammoniumbutane concentration between 1 mol % and 5 mol %.

[0067] In certain embodiments, the lead salt precursor comprises lead(II) iodide and the third salt precursor comprises formamidinium iodide.

[0068] In a particular embodiment, the lead salt precursor has a molar ratio of PbI2:PbCl2 of 90:10 dissolved in anhydrous dimethylformamide and contains 10 mol% cesium. The annealing is performed at a temperature of 50° C. or higher and 300° C. or lower. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0069] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary photovoltaic cell including an active layer, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1 is a stylized diagram illustrating components of an example PV device, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] 1 is a stylized diagram illustrating components of an example apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a stylized diagram illustrating components of an example apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a diagram of Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a diagram of a perovskite material with the addition of alkylammonium cations, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a diagram of a perovskite material with a 1-butylammonium surface layer, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a representation of a perovskite material having a surface layer of multiple bulky organic cations, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8A] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a representation of a perovskite material having a surface layer of multiple bulky organic cations, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 shows a comparison of images taken of perovskite materials with and without a 1-butylammonium (“BAI”) surface coating, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a comparison of images taken of a perovskite material with and without a 1-butylammonium (“BAI”) surface coating, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 11A] FIG. 1 illustrates various perylene monoimides and diimides that can be applied to the surface of a perovskite material, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 11B] FIG. 1 illustrates various perylene monoimides and diimides that can be applied to the surface of a perovskite material, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 11C] FIG. 1 illustrates various perylene monoimides and diimides that can be applied to the surface of a perovskite material, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 11D] FIG. 1 illustrates various perylene monoimides and diimides that can be applied to the surface of a perovskite material, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a diagram of a perovskite material with the addition of perylene monoimide ammonium cations, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 13]FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a diagram of 1,4-diammonium butane incorporated into the crystal lattice of a lead iodide perovskite formamidinium material, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 illustrates the X-ray diffraction peaks (XRD) of perovskites with various concentrations of 1,4-diammoniumbutane, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] 1A-1D are images over time of perovskite material samples having various concentrations of 1,4-diammoniumbutane, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 illustrates a poly-ammonium alkyl cation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16A] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a diagram of 1,8 diammonium octane incorporated into the crystal lattice of a formamidinium lead iodide perovskite material, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16B] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a diagram of bis(4-aminobutyl)-ammonium incorporated into the crystal lattice of a lead iodide perovskite formamidinium material, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16C] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram showing a diagram of tris(4-aminobutyl)-ammonium incorporated into the crystal lattice of a formamidinium lead iodide perovskite material, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 20] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 21] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 22] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 23] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 24] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 25] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 26] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 27] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 28] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a particular organic molecule, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 29] FIG. 2 shows an X-ray diffraction pattern of a perovskite material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 30] FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram of the thickness of an inorganic metal halide sublattice of a perovskite material, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 31] FIG. 1 shows optical and photoluminescence images of a perovskite material photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 32] FIG. 1 shows a power output curve of a perovskite material photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 33] FIG. 1 shows a current-voltage (IV) scan of a perovskite material photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 34] FIG. 1 shows box plots of open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite material photovoltaic devices according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 35] FIG. 2 shows the external quantum efficiency (EQE) curve of a perovskite material photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 36] FIG. 14 shows an admittance spectroscopic plot of a perovskite material photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0070] Improvements in various aspects of PV technology that are compatible with organic, inorganic, and / or hybrid PV are expected to further reduce the cost of both organic and other PV. For example, some solar cells, such as perovskite solar cells, can utilize new cost-effective and highly stable alternatives, such as nickel oxide interfacial layers. Various solar cells also advantageously contain chemical additives and other materials that are, among other things, more cost-effective and durable than currently existing conventional options.

[0071] The present disclosure relates generally to devices, methods, and compositions of matter that use materials in photovoltaic cells in generating electrical energy from solar radiation. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to photoactive and other compositions of matter, as well as devices, methods of use, and formation of such compositions of matter.

[0072] Some or all of the materials according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure may be usefully used in any organic or other electronic device, some examples include, but are not limited to, batteries, field effect transistors (FETs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), nonlinear optical devices, memristors, capacitors, rectifiers, and / or rectifying antennas.

[0073] In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides PV and other similar devices (e.g., batteries, hybrid PV cells, multi-junction PV, FETs, LEDs, X-ray detectors, gamma ray detectors, photodiodes, CCDs, etc.). In certain embodiments, such devices may include improved active materials, interfacial layers (IFLs), and / or one or more perovskite materials. The perovskite materials may be incorporated in one or more various aspects of the PV or other devices. Perovskite materials according to certain embodiments may have the general formula CMX3, where C has one or more cations (e.g., amines, ammonium, phosphonium, Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, and / or other cations or cation-like compounds), M has one or more metals (e.g., including Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr), and X has one or more anions. Perovskite materials according to various embodiments are discussed in more detail below.

[0074] Photovoltaic Cells and Other Electronic Devices Certain PV embodiments may be described with reference to an exemplary diagram of a solar cell as shown in FIG. 1. An exemplary PV architecture according to certain embodiments may be substantially in the form of substrate-anode-IFL-active layer-IFL-cathode. The active layer of certain embodiments may be photoactive and / or include photoactive materials. Other layers and materials may be utilized within the cell as is conventionally known. It should further be noted that the use of the term "active layer" is not meant to explicitly or implicitly limit or otherwise define the properties of any other layers. For example, in certain embodiments, either or both of the IFLs may be active if they are semiconductors. With particular reference to FIG. 1, a stylized generic PV cell 1000 is shown illustrating the high interfacial properties of some layers within the PV. The PV 1000 represents a generic architecture applicable to some PV devices, such as perovskite material PV embodiments. The PV cell 1000 has a transparent substrate layer 1010, which may be glass (or a similar material transparent to solar radiation), allowing solar radiation to transmit through the layers. The transparent layer of an embodiment may also be referred to as a superstrate or substrate (e.g., similar to substrate layer 3901 in FIG. 2) and may comprise one or more of a variety of rigid or flexible materials, such as glass, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyimide, PMMA, PET, PEN, Kapton, or quartz. In general, the term substrate is used to refer to the material on which the device is deposited during fabrication. The photoactive layer 1040 may be comprised of electron donor or p-type material, and / or electron acceptor or n-type material, and / or ambipolar semiconductors that exhibit both p-type and n-type material properties, and / or intrinsic semiconductors that do not exhibit n-type or p-type properties. In an embodiment, the photoactive layer 1040 may be a perovskite material as described herein. As shown in FIG. 1, the active layer or photoactive layer 1040 is sandwiched between two conductive electrode layers 1020 and 1060. In FIG. 1, electrode layer 1020 may be a transparent conductor such as indium tin oxide (ITO material) or other materials described herein.In other embodiments, the second substrate 1070 and the second electrode 1060 may be transparent. As mentioned above, the active layer of an embodiment does not necessarily have to be photoactive. However, in the device shown in FIG. 1, it is photoactive. The electrode layer 1060 may be an aluminum material or other metal, or other conductive material such as carbon. Other materials known in the art may be used. The cell 1010 also has an interfacial layer (IFL) 1030 as shown in the example of FIG. 1. The IFL may assist in charge separation. In other embodiments, the IFL 1030 may have a multi-layer IFL, which will be discussed in more detail below. There may also be an IFL 1050 adjacent to the electrode 1060. In some embodiments, the IFL 1050 adjacent to the electrode 1060 may further have a multi-layer IFL or may instead have a multi-layer IFL (again, discussed in more detail below). The IFL according to some embodiments may be semiconducting in nature, intrinsic, ambipolar, p-type, or n-type, or may be dielectric in nature. In some embodiments, the IFL on the cathode side of the device (e.g., IFL 1050 as shown in FIG. 1) may be p-type and the IFL on the anode side of the device (e.g., IFL 1030 as shown in FIG. 1) may be n-type. However, in other embodiments, the cathode side IFL may be n-type and the anode side IFL may be p-type. Cell 1010 may be attached to electrical leads by electrodes 1060 and 1020 and by a discharging unit such as a battery, motor, capacitor, power grid, or other electrical load.

[0075] Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide improved materials and / or designs for various aspects of solar cells and other devices, including active materials (including hole transport layers and / or electron transport layers), interfacial layers, and overall device design.

[0076] interfacial layer In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides advantageous materials and designs for one or more interfacial layers in a PV, including a thin-coated IFL, which may be used in one or more IFLs of a PV according to various embodiments discussed herein.

[0077] In various embodiments, the device may have an interface layer between any two other layers and / or materials, if necessary. However, the device need not include any interface layer. For example, a perovskite material device may have zero, one, two, three, four, five, or more interface layers (e.g., the example device of FIG. 2 has five interface layers 3903, 3905, 3907, 3909, and 3911). The interface layer may have any suitable material to enhance charge transport and / or collection between two layers or materials. This also helps to avoid or reduce the possibility of charge recombination once a charge is transported away from one of the materials adjacent to the interface layer. The interface layer additionally homogenizes the substrate physically and electrically, and may result in variations in the substrate roughness, dielectric constant, adhesion, defect generation, or disappearance (e.g., charge traps, surface states).Suitable interface materials may include any one or more of the following: Ag, Al, Au, B, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cu, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, H, In, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nt, Sb, Sc, Sn, Ta, Ti, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr; carbides of any of the above metals (e.g., SiC, Fe3C, WC, VC, MoC, NbC); suicides of any of the above metals (e.g., Mg2Si, SrSi2, Sn2Si); oxides of any of the above metals (e.g., Transparent conductive oxides ("TCOs") such as indium tin oxide, aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO), cadmium oxide (CdO), and fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO); sulfides of any of the above metals (e.g., CdS, MoS2, SnS2); nitrides of any of the above metals (e.g., GaN, Mg3N2, TiN, BN, Si3N4); any of the above metals (e.g., CdSe, FeS2, ZnSe); any of the above metals (e.g., CdTe, TiTe2, ZnTe); any of the above metals (e.g., InP, GaP, GaInP); any of the above metals (e.g., CoAs3, GaAs, InGaAs, NiAs); any of the above metals (e.g., AlSb, GaSb, InSb); any of the above metals (e.g., CuCl, CuI, BiI3); any of the above metals (e.g., CuCl, CuI, BiI3); any pseudohalide of the above metals (e.g., CuSCN, AuCN, Fe(SCN)2); any carbonate of the above metals (e.g., CaCO3, Ce2(CO3)3); functionalized or non-functionalized alkylsilyl groups; graphite; graphene; fullerenes; carbon nanotubes; any mesoporous and / or interfacial materials discussed elsewhere herein; and combinations thereof (including, in some embodiments, bilayers, trilayers, or multilayers of combined materials). In some embodiments, the interfacial layer may comprise a perovskite material. Additionally, the interfacial layer may include doped embodiments of any interfacial material described herein (e.g., Y-doped ZnO, N-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes).The interfacial layer may also comprise a compound having three of the aforementioned materials (e.g., CuTiO3, Zn2SnO4), or a compound having four of the aforementioned materials (e.g., CoNiZnO). The aforementioned listed materials may exist in planar, mesoporous, or other nanostructured forms (e.g., rods, spheres, flowers, pyramids), or as aerogel structures.

[0078] First, as mentioned above, one or more IFLs (e.g., either or both of IFLs 2626 and 2627 as shown in FIG. 1) may comprise the photoactive organic compound of the present disclosure as a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) or as a thin film. When the photoactive organic compound of the present disclosure is applied as a SAM, it may have a linking group through which it may be covalently or otherwise bound to either or both of the anode and cathode surfaces. The linking group of an embodiment may have any one or more of COOH, SiX3 (wherein X may be any moiety suitable for forming a ternary silicon compound such as Si(OR)3 and SiCl3), SO3, PO4H, OH, CH2X (wherein X may have a halogenated group17), and O. The linking group may be covalently or otherwise bound to the electron withdrawing moiety, the electron donating moiety, and / or the core moiety. The binding groups may be attached to the electrode surface to form an oriented organic layer of a monomolecule (or in some embodiments, multiple molecules) in thickness (e.g., when multiple photoactive organic compounds are attached to the anode and / or cathode). As previously mentioned, the SAM may be attached via covalent interactions, but in some embodiments, it may be attached via ionic, hydrogen bonding, and / or dispersion force (i.e., van der Waals) interactions. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, upon exposure to light, the SAM enters a zwitterionic excited state, which forms a highly polarized IFL that can direct charge carriers from the active layer to the electrode (e.g., the anode or cathode). In some embodiments, this enhanced charge carrier injection can be achieved by electronically polishing the cross-section of the active layer, which in turn increases the drift velocity of charge carriers toward the respective electrodes (e.g., holes to the anode, electrons to the cathode). Molecules for anode applications in some embodiments have tunable compounds that include a primary electron donor moiety attached to a core moiety, which is in turn attached to an electron withdrawing moiety, which may be attached to a binding group.In some embodiments, the IFL molecule comprises a tunable compound having an electron-deficient moiety bonded to a core moiety, which is bonded to an electron donor moiety, which may be bonded to a linking group. When a photoactive organic compound is used as an IFL according to such embodiments, it may maintain photoactive properties, although in some embodiments it need not be photoactive.

[0079] The metal oxide used in the thin film IFL of some embodiments may include semiconducting metal oxides such as NiO, SnO2, WO3, V2O5, or MoO3. An embodiment having TiO2 coated with a thin film coated IFL in which the second (e.g., n-type) active material includes Al2O3 may be formed, for example, with a precursor material such as Al(NO3)3·xH2O, or any other material suitable for depositing Al2O3 on TiO2, followed by thermal annealing and die coating. In an exemplary embodiment in which a MoO3 coating is used instead, the coating may be formed with a precursor material such as Na2Mo4·2H2O. Meanwhile, a V2O5 coating according to some embodiments may be formed with a precursor material such as NaVO3. A WO3 coating according to some embodiments may be formed with a precursor material such as NaWO4·H2O. The concentration of the precursor material (e.g., Al(NO3)3·xH2O) may affect the thickness of the final film (here Al2O3) deposited on the TiO2 or other active material. Thus, varying the concentration of the precursor material can be a way to control the final film thickness. For example, a larger film thickness can result from a larger precursor material concentration. A larger film thickness does not necessarily result in a larger PCE in a PV device having a metal oxide coating. Thus, the method of one embodiment may include coating the TiO2 (or other mesoporous) layer with a precursor material having a concentration in the range of about 0.5-10.0 mM. Other embodiments may include coating the layer with a precursor material having a concentration in the range of about 2.0-6.0 mM. Or in other embodiments, a concentration of about 2.5-5.5 mM.

[0080] Additionally, although reference is made herein to Al2O3 and / or alumina, it should be noted that various percentages of aluminum and oxygen may be used to form the alumina. Thus, while certain embodiments discussed herein may be described as Al2O3, such description is not intended to define a required ratio of aluminum to oxygen. Rather, embodiments include any one or more aluminum oxide compounds, each of which may ... x O y where x may be any value, integer or non-integer, between about 1 and 100. In some embodiments, x may be between about 1 and 3 (again, not necessarily an integer). Similarly, y may be any value, integer or non-integer, between 0.1 and 100. In some embodiments, y may be between 2 and 4 (again, not necessarily an integer). Additionally, in various embodiments, Al, such as alpha, gamma, and / or amorphous forms of alumina, may be present. x O y Various crystalline forms of may exist.

[0081] Similarly, although referred to in this application as NiO, MoO3, WO3, and V2O5, such compounds may alternatively be referred to as NiO, MoO3, WO3, and V2O5, respectively. x O y , Mo x O y , W x O y , and V x O y It may also be expressed as: x O y and W x O y For each of the above, x may be any value, integer or non-integer, between about 0.5 and 100. In some embodiments, it may be between about 0.5 and 1.5. Similarly, y may be any value, integer or non-integer, between about 1 and 100. In some embodiments, y may be any value, integer or non-integer, between about 1 and 4. x O ywherein x may be any value, integer or non-integer, between about 0.5 and 100, and in certain embodiments, between about 0.5 and 1.5. Similarly, y may be any value, integer or non-integer, between about 1 and 100. In certain embodiments, it may be an integer or non-integer value between about 1 and 10. In certain embodiments, x and y may have values ​​that result in a non-stoichiometric ratio.

[0082] In some embodiments, the IFL may include a titanate. In some embodiments, the titanate may be represented by the general formula M'TiO3, where M' includes any 2+ cation. In some embodiments, M' may have the cation form of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg, Cu, Pd, Pt, Sn, or Pb. In some aspects, the IFL may have a single species of titanate, and in other embodiments, the IFL may have two or more different species of titanate. In some embodiments, the titanate may have the general formula SrTiO3. In other embodiments, the titanate may have the formula BaTiO3. In yet other embodiments, the titanate may have the general formula CaTiO3.

[0083] By way of explanation and not intended to be limiting in any way, titanates have a perovskite crystal structure and strongly seed the growth conversion process of perovskite materials (e.g., methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) and formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3)). In general, titanates also satisfy other IFL requirements, such as ferroelectric behavior, sufficient charge carrier mobility, optical transparency, matching energy levels, and high dielectric constants.

[0084] In other embodiments, the IFL may include a zirconate. In some embodiments, the zirconate may be represented by the general formula M'ZrO3, where M' has any 2+ cation. In some embodiments, M' may have the cationic form of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg, Cu, Pd, Pt, Sn, or Pb. In some embodiments, the IFL may have a single species of zirconate, and in other embodiments, the IFL may have two or more different species of zirconate. In some embodiments, the zirconate may have the general formula SrZrO3. In another embodiment, the zirconate may have the general formula BaZrO3. In yet another embodiment, the zirconate may have the general formula CaZrO3.

[0085] By way of explanation and not intended to be in any way limiting, zirconates have a perovskite crystal structure and are strong seeders of the perovskite material (e.g., MAPbI3, FAPbI3) growth conversion process, and generally also meet other IFL requirements such as ferroelectric behavior, sufficient charge carrier mobility, optical transparency, matching energy levels, and high dielectric constants.

[0086] In another embodiment, the IFL may have a stannate salt. The stannate salt according to an embodiment may be represented by the general formula M'SnO3, or M'2SnO4, where M' has any 2+ cation. In an embodiment, M' may have a cationic form of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg, Cu, Pd, Pt, Sn, or Pb. In an embodiment, the IFL may have a single species of stannate salt, and in another embodiment, the IFL may have two or more different species of stannate salt. In an embodiment, the stannate salt has the general formula SrSnO3. In another embodiment, the stannate salt may have the general formula BaSnO3. In yet another embodiment, the stannate salt may have the general formula CaSnO3.

[0087] By way of explanation and not intended to be in any way limiting, stannates have a perovskite crystal structure and strongly seed the perovskite material (e.g., MAPbI3, FAPbI3) growth conversion process. In addition, stannates generally meet other IFL requirements, such as ferroelectric behavior, sufficient charge carrier mobility, optical transparency, matching energy levels, and high dielectric constants.

[0088] In another embodiment, the IFL may have a plumbate. The plumbate according to an embodiment may have the general formula M'PbO3, where M' includes any 2+ cation. In an embodiment, M' may have the cationic form of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg, Cu, Pd, Pt, Sn, or Pb. In an embodiment, the IFL may have a single species of plumbate, and in another embodiment, the IFL may have two or more different species of plumbate. In one embodiment, the plumbate may have the general formula SrPbO3. In another embodiment, the plumbate may have the general formula BaPbO3. In yet another embodiment, the plumbate may have the general formula CaPbO3. In yet another embodiment, the plumbate may have the general formula Pb II Pb IV It may have O3.

[0089] By way of explanation and not intended to be in any way limiting, plumbates have a perovskite crystal structure and strongly seed the growth conversion process of perovskite materials (e.g., MAPbI3, FAPbI3), and generally also satisfy other IFL requirements, such as ferroelectric behavior, sufficient charge carrier mobility, optical transparency, matching energy levels, and high dielectric constants.

[0090] In yet another embodiment, the IFL is represented by the general formula M'[Zr x Ti 1-x]O3, where X is greater than 0 but less than 1, and M' includes any 2+ cation. In some embodiments, M' can have the cation form of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg, Cu, Pd, Pt, Sn, or Pb. In some embodiments, the IFL has a single species of zirconate, and in other embodiments, the IFL may have two or more different species of zirconate. In one embodiment, the zirconate / titanate combination has the general formula Pb[Zr x Ti 1-x ]O3. In another embodiment, the zirconate / titanate combination has the general formula Pb[Zr 0.52 Ti 0.48 ]O3.

[0091] For purposes of illustration and not intended to be limiting in any way, zirconate / titanate combinations have a perovskite crystal structure and strongly seed the growth conversion process of perovskite materials (e.g., MAPbI3, FAPbI3), and generally also meet other IFL requirements, such as ferroelectric behavior, sufficient charge carrier mobility, optical transparency, matching energy levels, and high dielectric constants.

[0092] In other embodiments, the IFL may have a niobate salt. In some embodiments, the niobate salt may have a general formula of M'NbO3, where M' has any 1+ cation. In some embodiments, M' may have a cationic form of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Cu, Ag, Au, Tl, ammonium, or H. In some embodiments, the IFL may have a single species of niobate salt, and in other embodiments, the IFL may have two or more different species of niobate salts. In some embodiments, the niobate salt has a general formula of LiNbO3. In other embodiments, the niobate salt may have a general formula of NaNbO3. In yet other embodiments, the niobate salt may have a general formula of AgNbO3.

[0093] For purposes of illustration and not intended to be limiting in any way, niobates generally meet IFL requirements such as piezoelectric behavior, nonlinear optical polarizability, photoelasticity, ferroelectricity, Pockels effect, sufficient charge carrier mobility, optical transparency, matching energy levels, and high dielectric constants.

[0094] In one embodiment, a perovskite material device is formed by casting PbI2 onto a SrTiO3-coated ITO substrate. The PbI2 may be converted to MAPbI3 by a dipping process, which is described in more detail below. The resulting conversion of PbI2 to MAPbI3 is more complete (as observed by optical spectroscopy) compared to preparations of substrates without SrTiO3.

[0095] The interface materials described herein may further comprise doped compositions. Stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric materials may be doped with one or more elements (e.g., Na, Y, Mg, N, P) in amounts ranging from 1 ppb% to 50 mol% to modify the properties (e.g., electrical, optical, mechanical) of the interface material. Some examples of interface materials include NiO, TiO2, SrTiO3, Al2O3, ZrO2, WO3, VO5, MO3, ZnO, graphene, and carbon black. Examples of possible dopants for these interface materials include Li, Na, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, Nb, Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Sn, In, B, N, P, C, S, As, halides, pseudohalides (e.g., cyanides, cyanates, isocyanates, fulminates, thiocyanates, isothiocyanates, azides, tetracarbonylcobaltates, carbamoyldicyanonemethanide, dicyanonitrosomethanide, dicyanamide, and tricyanomethanide), and Al in any oxidation state. Reference herein to a doped interface material is not intended to limit the ratio of components in the interface material compound.

[0096] In some embodiments, multiple IFLs made of different materials may be placed adjacent to each other to form a composite IFL. This configuration may include two different IFLs, three different IFLs, or even more different IFLs. The resulting multi-layer IFL or composite IFL may be used in place of a single-material IFL. For example, the composite IFL may use any of the IFLs shown in the example of FIG. 2, such as IFL3903, IFL3905, IFL3907, IFL3909, or IFL3911. Although the composite IFL is different from a single-material IFL, the assembly of a perovskite material PV cell with a multi-layer IFL is not substantially different from the assembly of a perovskite material PV cell with only a single-material IFL.

[0097] In general, the composite IFL can be made using any material suitable for an IFL as described herein. In some embodiments, the IFL has a layer of Al2O3 and a layer of ZnO or M:ZnO (doped ZnO, e.g., Be:ZnO, Mg:ZnO, Ca:ZnO, Sr:ZnO, Ba:ZnO, Sc:ZnO, Y:ZnO, Nb:ZnO). In some embodiments, the IFL has a layer of ZrO2 and a layer of ZnO or M:ZnO. In certain embodiments, the IFL has multiple layers. In some embodiments, the multilayer IFL generally has a conductor layer, a dielectric layer, and a semiconductor layer. In certain embodiments, the layers may repeat, for example, a conductor layer, a dielectric layer, a semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer, and a semiconductor layer. Examples of multi-layer IFLs include an IFL having an ITO layer, an Al2O3 layer, a ZnO layer, and a second Al2O3 layer; an IFL having an ITO layer, an Al2O3 layer, a ZnO layer, a second Al2O3 layer, and a second ZnO layer; an IFL having an ITO layer, an Al2O3 layer, a ZnO layer, a second Al2O3 layer, a second ZnO layer, and a third Al2O3 layer; and an IFL having as many layers as necessary to achieve desired performance characteristics. As stated above, references to specific stoichiometric ratios are not intended to limit the proportions of components in the IFL layers according to various embodiments.

[0098] Arranging two or more adjacent IFLs as a composite IFL can potentially exceed the single IFL in perovskite material PV cells, and the contributions from each IFL material can be leveraged to a single IFL. For example, in an architecture with ITO, Al2O3, and ZnO layers, ITO is a conductive electrode, Al2O3 is a dielectric material, ZnO is an n-type semiconductor, and ZnO acts as an electron acceptor with good electron transport properties (e.g., mobility). Al2O3 is also a physically robust material, adheres well to ITO, homogenizes the surface by capping surface defects (e.g., charge traps), and improves device diode properties by suppressing dark current.

[0099] Also, some perovskite material PV cells may have two or more perovskite photoactive layers, so-called "tandem" PV cells. For example, both photoactive materials 3908 and 3906 in FIG. 2 may be perovskite materials. In such tandem PV cells, the interface layer between the two photoactive layers, such as IFL 3907 in FIG. 2, may have a multi-layer or composite IFL. In some embodiments, the layer sandwiched between the two photoactive layers of a tandem PV device may include an electrode layer.

[0100] A tandem PV device may include the following layers, in top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top order: a first substrate, a first electrode, a first interfacial layer, a first perovskite material, a second interfacial layer, a second electrode, a third interfacial layer, a second perovskite material, a fourth interfacial layer, and a third electrode. In an embodiment, the first and third interfacial layers may be hole transporting interfacial layers and the second and fourth interfacial layers may be electron transporting interfacial layers. In another embodiment, the first and third interfacial layers may be electron transporting interfacial layers and the second and fourth interfacial layers may be hole transporting interfacial layers. In yet another embodiment, the first and fourth interfacial layers may be hole transporting interfacial layers and the second and third interfacial layers may be electron transporting interfacial layers. In another embodiment, the first and fourth interfacial layers may be electron transporting interfacial layers and the second and third interfacial layers may be hole transporting interfacial layers. In a tandem PV device, the first and second perovskite materials may have different bandgaps. In an embodiment, the first perovskite material may be formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr3) and the second perovskite material may be formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3). In other embodiments, the first perovskite material may be methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) and the second perovskite material may be formamidinium lead iodide (FaPbI3). In other embodiments, the first perovskite material may be methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) and the second perovskite material may be methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3).

[0101] Perovskite Materials The perovskite material may be incorporated into one or more aspects of a PV or other device. The perovskite material according to one embodiment has the general formula C w M y X zwhere C comprises one or more cations (e.g., amines, ammonium, phosphonium, Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, and / or other cations or cationic compounds), M comprises one or more metals (e.g., Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr), X comprises one or more anions, and w, y, and z represent real numbers from 1 to 20. In some embodiments, C may have one or more organic cations. In some embodiments, each organic cation C may be larger than each metal M, and each anion X may be capable of binding to both the cation C and the metal M. In certain embodiments, the perovskite material may have the general formula CMX3.

[0102] In one embodiment, C is ammonium, a group of the general formula [NR4] + where the R groups can be the same or different groups. Suitable R groups include, but are not limited to, hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl groups or isomers thereof; any alkane, alkene, or alkyne CxHy, where x=1-20 and y=1-42, cyclic, branched, or straight chain; alkyl halides, C x H y X z, x=1-20, y=0-42, z=1-42, X=F, Cl, Br, or I; any aromatic group (e.g., phenyl, alkylphenyl, alkoxyphenyl, pyridine, naphthalene); cyclic complexes containing at least one nitrogen in the ring (e.g., pyridine, pyrrole, pyrrolidine, piperidine, tetrahydroquinoline); any sulfur-containing group (e.g., sulfoxide, thiol, alkylsulfide); any nitrogen-containing group (nitroxide, amine); any phosphorus-containing group (phosphate); any boron-containing group (e.g., boronic acid); any organic acid (e.g., acetic acid, propanoic acid); and ester or amide derivatives thereof; any amino acid with α, β, γ and larger derivatives (e.g., glycine, cysteine, proline, glutamic acid, arginine, serine, histidine, 5-ammonium valerate); any silicon-containing group (e.g., siloxane); and any alkoxy or reactive group -OC. x H y , where x = 0 to 20 and y = 1 to 42;

[0103] In one embodiment, C is a formamidinium, of the general formula [RNCRNR] + where the R groups may be the same or different groups. Suitable R groups include, but are not limited to, hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl groups or isomers thereof; any alkane, alkene, or alkyne C x H y , where x=1-20 and y=1-42, cyclic, branched, or straight chain; alkyl halides, C x H y X z, x=1-20, y=0-42, z=1=42, X=F, Cl, Br, or I; any aromatic (e.g., phenyl, alkylphenyl, alkoxyphenyl, pyridine, naphthalene); cyclic complexes containing at least one nitrogen in the ring (e.g., imidazole, benzimidazole, pyrimidine, (azolidinylidenemethyl)pyrrolidine, triazole); any sulfur-containing group (e.g., sulfoxide, thiol, alkylsulfide); any nitrogen-containing group (nitroxide, amine); any phosphorus-containing group (phosphate); any boron-containing group (e.g., boronic acid); any organic acid (acetic acid, propanoic acid) and its ester or amide derivatives; any amino acid with α, β, γ and larger derivatives (e.g., glycine, cysteine, proline, glutamic acid, arginine, serine, histidine, 5-ammonium valerate); any silicon-containing group (e.g., siloxane); and any alkoxy or reactive group -OC. x H y , where x = 0 to 20 and y = 1 to 42;

[0104] [ka] Chemical formula 1 is, as shown above, [R2NCRNR2] + The structure of the formamidinium cation has the general formula: Formula 2 shows examples of the structure of several formamidinium cations, which may function as the cation "C" in perovskite materials.

[0105] [ka] In certain embodiments, C is guanidinium, of the general formula [(R2N)2C=NR2] + where the R groups may be the same or different groups. Suitable R groups include, but are not limited to, hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl groups or isomers thereof; any alkane, alkene, or alkyne C x H y(x=1-20, y=1-42, cyclic, branched, or straight chain); alkyl halides, C x H y X z , x=1-20, y=0-42, z=1-42, X=F, Cl, Br, or I; any aromatic group (e.g., phenyl, alkylphenyl, alkoxyphenyl, pyridine, naphthalene); cyclic complexes containing at least one nitrogen in the ring (e.g., octahydropyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine, pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine, hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]imidazole, hexahydropyrimidin-2-imine); any sulfur-containing group (e.g., sulfoxide, thiol, alkylsulfur, any nitrogen-containing group (nitroxide, amine); any phosphorus-containing group (phosphate); any boron-containing group (e.g., boronic acid); any organic acid (acetic acid, propanoic acid) and its ester or amide derivatives; any amino acid with alpha, beta, gamma and larger derivatives (e.g., glycine, cysteine, proline, glutamic acid, arginine, serine, histidine, 5-ammonium valerate); any silicon-containing group (e.g., siloxane); and any alkoxy or reactive group -OC. x H y , where x = 0 to 20 and y = 1 to 42;

[0106] [ka] As mentioned above, chemical formula 3 is [(R2N)2C=NR2] + The structure of the guanidinium cation has the general formula: Formula 4 shows examples of the structures of several guanidinium cations, which may function as the cation "C" in perovskite materials.

[0107] [ka] TIFF0007597451000005.tif73165 In one embodiment, C is an ethenetetramine cation, of the general formula [(R2N)2C=C(NR2)2] +where the R groups may be the same or different reactive groups. Suitable R groups include, but are not limited to, hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl groups or isomers thereof; any alkane, alkene, or alkyne C x H y (x=1-20, y=1-42, cyclic, branched, or straight chain); alkyl halides, C x H y X z , x=1-20, y=0-42, z=1-42, X=F, Cl, Br, or I; any aromatic group (e.g., phenyl, alkylphenyl, alkoxyphenyl, pyridine, naphthalene); cyclic complexes containing at least one nitrogen in the ring (e.g., 2-hexahydropyrimidin-2-ylidenehexahydropyrimidine, octahydropyrazine[2,3-b]pyrazine, pyrazino[2,3-b]pyrazine, quinoxalino[2,3-b]quinoxaline); any sulfur-containing group (e.g., sulfoxide, thiol, alkylsulfide); any nitrogen any boron-containing group (e.g., boric acid); any organic acid (e.g., acetic acid, propanoic acid) and its ester or amide derivatives; any amino acid with alpha, beta, gamma and larger derivatives (e.g., glycine, cysteine, proline, glutamic acid, arginine, serine, histidine, 5-ammonium valerate); any silicon-containing group (e.g., siloxane); and any alkoxy or reactive group, -OCxHy, where x=0-20 and y=1-42.

[0108] [ka] As mentioned above, chemical formula 5 is [(R2N)2C=C(NR2)2] + The structure of the ethenetetramine cation has the general formula: Formula 6 shows examples of the structures of several ethenetetramine ions, which may function as the cation "C" in perovskite materials.

[0109] [ka] In one embodiment, C is an imidazolium cation, of the general formula [CRNRCRNRCR] + wherein the R groups may be the same or different groups. Suitable R groups include, but are not limited to, hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl groups or isomers thereof; alkanes, alkenes or alkynes C x H y (x=1-20, y=1-42, cyclic, branched or straight chain); halogenated alkyl, C x H y X z , x=1-20, y=0-42, z=1-42, X=F, Cl, Br, or I; any aromatic group (e.g., phenyl, alkylphenyl, alkoxyphenyl, pyridine, naphthalene); cyclic complexes containing at least one nitrogen in the ring (e.g., 2-hexahydropyrimidin-2-ylidenehexahydropyrimidine, octahydropyrazine[2,3-b]pyrazine, pyrazino[2,3-b]pyrazine, quinoxalino[2,3-b]quinoxaline); any sulfur-containing group (e.g., sulfoxide, thiol, alkylsulfide, ); any nitrogen-containing group (nitroxide, amine); any phosphorus-containing group (phosphate); any boron-containing group (e.g., boronic acid); any organic acid (acetic acid, propanoic acid) and ester or amide derivatives; any amino acid with alpha, beta, gamma and larger derivatives (e.g., glycine, cysteine, proline, glutamic acid, arginine, serine, histidine, 5-ammonium valerate); any silicon-containing group (e.g., siloxane); and any alkoxy or reactive group, -OCxHy, where x=0-20 and y=1-42.

[0110] [ka] In some embodiments, X may include one or more halides. In some embodiments, X may alternatively or additionally include a Group 16 anion. In some embodiments, the Group 16 anion may be an oxide, sulfide, selenide, or telluride. In some embodiments, X may alternatively or additionally include one or more pseudohalides (e.g., cyanide, cyanate, isocyanate, fulminate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, azide, tetracarbonylcobaltate, carbamoyldicyanomethanide, dicyanonitrosomethanide, dicyanamide, and tricyanomethanide).

[0111] In certain embodiments, the perovskite material may have an empirical formula CMX3, where C has one or more cations, Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, and / or other cations or cationic compounds as described above, M has one or more metals (including, for example, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr), and X has one or more anions as described above.

[0112] In another embodiment, the perovskite material may have an empirical formula C'M2X6, where C' comprises a cation having a 2+ charge, including one or more of the cations listed above, diammonium butane, Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, and / or other cations or cationic compounds, M comprises one or more metals (including, for example, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr), and X comprises one or more anions listed above.

[0113] In certain embodiments, the perovskite material may have an empirical formula of C3M2X9, where C includes one or more of the cations, Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, and / or other cations or cationic compounds described above, M includes one or more metals (including, for example, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr), and X includes one or more anions described above.

[0114] In certain embodiments, the perovskite material may have an empirical formula CM2X7, where C has one or more of the cations, Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, and / or other cations or cationic compounds described above, M has one or more metals (including, for example, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr), and X has one or more of the anions described above.

[0115] In certain embodiments, the perovskite material may have an empirical formula C2MX4, where C includes one or more of the cations, Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, and / or other cations or cationic compounds described above, M includes one or more metals (e.g., including Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr), and X includes one or more anions described above.

[0116] Perovskite materials also have mixed ionic formations, where C, M or X has more than one species, e.g., Cs 0.1 FA 0.9 Pb(I 0.9 Cl 0.1 )3;Rb 0.1 FA 0.9 Pb(Cl 0.1 )3, Cs 0.1 FA 0.9PbI3;FAPb 0.5 Sn 0.5 I3;FA 0.83 Cs 0.17 Pb(I 0.6 Br 0.4 )3;FA 0.83 Cs 0.12 Rb 0.05 Pb(I 0.6 Br 0.4 )3 and FA 0.85 MA 0.15 Pb(I 0.85 Br 0.15 ) 3.

[0117] Composite perovskite material device design In certain embodiments, the present disclosure may provide hybrid designs of PV and other similar devices (e.g., batteries, hybrid PV cells, FETs, LEDs, nonlinear optics (NLO), waveguides, etc.) having one or more perovskite materials. For example, one or more perovskite materials may function as either or both of the first and second active materials of certain embodiments (e.g., active materials 3906a and 3908a in FIG. 3). More generally, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide PV or other devices having an active layer that includes one or more perovskite materials. In such embodiments, perovskite materials (i.e., materials having any one or more perovskite materials) may be used in the active layer in various architectures. Also, the perovskite materials may function as any one or more components of the active layer (e.g., charge transport materials, mesoporous materials, photoactive materials, and / or interface materials, each of which are discussed in more detail below). In some embodiments, the same perovskite material may contribute to more than one such function. However, in other embodiments, more than one perovskite material may be included in the device, with each perovskite material performing one or more such functions. In certain embodiments, whatever role the perovskite material plays, it may be prepared and / or provided in the device in various states. For example, in some embodiments, it may be substantially solid. A solution or suspension may be coated or otherwise deposited within the device (e.g., on another component of the device, such as a mesoporous layer, an interfacial layer, a charge transport layer, a photoactive layer, or other layers, and / or an electrode). In some embodiments, the perovskite material may be formed in-situ (e.g., by vapor deposition as a thin film solid) on the surface of another component of the device. Any other suitable means of forming a layer having a perovskite material may be used.

[0118] In general, a perovskite material device has a first electrode, a second electrode, and an active layer having a perovskite material, the active layer being disposed at least partially between the first electrode and the second electrode. In some embodiments, the first electrode may be one of the anode and the cathode, and the second electrode may be the other of the anode and the cathode. The active layer according to certain embodiments may have any one or more active layer components, which may include charge transport materials, liquid electrolytes, mesoporous materials, photoactive materials (e.g., die, silicon, cadmium telluride, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, copper indium gallium selenide, gallium arsenide, indium germanium phosphide, semiconducting polymers, other photoactive materials), and interface materials. One or more of these active layer components may have one or more perovskite materials. In some embodiments, some or all of the active layer components may be disposed in whole or in part in a sublayer. For example, the active layer may include any one or more of an interfacial layer having an interfacial material, a mesoporous layer having a mesoporous material, and a charge transport layer having a charge transport material. Furthermore, in some embodiments, an interfacial layer may be included between any two or more other layers of the active layer and / or between an active layer member and an electrode. In this application, reference to a layer may include the final arrangement (e.g., substantially separate portions of each material separately definable in a device) and / or the layer may refer to the arrangement during construction of a device, even though there may be subsequent intermixing of the materials in each layer. In some embodiments, the layers may have discrete, substantially adjacent materials (e.g., the layers may be as stylistically shown in FIG. 2).

[0119] In an embodiment, the perovskite material device may be a field effect transistor (FET). The FET perovskite material device may have a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode, a dielectric layer, and a semiconducting layer. In an embodiment, the semiconducting layer of the FET perovskite material device may be a perovskite material.

[0120] Perovskite material devices according to certain embodiments may include one or more substrates, if necessary. In some embodiments, either or both of the first and second electrodes may be coated or otherwise deposited on the substrate, with the electrodes being disposed substantially between the substrate and the active layer. In various embodiments, the materials of the device composition (e.g., substrate, electrodes, active layer and / or active layer members) may be either rigid or flexible, in whole or in part. In certain embodiments, the electrodes may function as the substrate, thereby eliminating the need for a separate substrate.

[0121] In certain embodiments, the perovskite material device may also include an anti-reflective layer or coating (ARC) if desired. The perovskite material device may also include any one or more additives, such as any one or more of the additives set forth with respect to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0122] A description of some of the various materials that may be included in a perovskite material device is provided in part with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram of a perovskite material device 3900 according to an embodiment. While various components of the device 3900 are illustrated as separate layers with adjacent materials, it will be understood that FIG. 2 is a stylized diagram. Accordingly, embodiments according thereto may include such separate layers, and / or substantially intermixed non-adjacent layers, consistent with the use of "layer" above. The device 3900 has first and second substrates 3901 and 3913. A first electrode 3902 is disposed on an inner surface of the first substrate 3901, and a second electrode 3912 is disposed on an inner surface of the second substrate 3913. An active layer 3950 is sandwiched between the two electrodes 3902 and 3912. The active layer 3950 has a mesoporous layer 3904, first and second photoactive materials 3906, 3908, a charge transport layer 3910, and several interfacial layers. Additionally, Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary device 3900 according to an embodiment, where the sub-layers of the active layer 3950 are separated by interfacial layers, which are further disposed on each of the electrodes 3902 and 3912. In particular, second, third, and fourth interfacial layers 3905, 3907, and 3909 are disposed between the mesoporous layer 3904, the first photoactive material 3906, the second photoactive material 3908, and the charge transport layer 3910, respectively. First and fifth interfacial layers 3903 and 3911 are disposed, respectively, (i) between first electrode 3902 and mesoporous layer 3904, and (ii) between charge transport layer 3910 and second electrode 3912. Thus, the architecture of the exemplary device shown in FIG. 2 is characterized as substrate-electrode-active layer-electrode-substrate. The architecture of active layer 3950 is characterized as interfacial layer-mesoporous layer-interfacial layer-photoactive material-interfacial layer-photoactive material-interfacial layer-charge transport layer-interfacial layer. As previously mentioned, in some embodiments, no interfacial layers may be present, or one or more interfacial layers may be included only between some but not all of the components of a particular active layer and / or device.

[0123] Substrates, such as either or both of the first and second substrates 3901, 3913, may be flexible or rigid. If two substrates are included, at least one must be transparent or semi-transparent to electromagnetic (EM) radiation (e.g., ultraviolet, visible, or infrared). If one substrate is included, it may be transparent or semi-transparent as well. However, this is not necessary, as long as a portion of the device allows EM radiation to contact the active layer 3950. Suitable substrate materials include any one or more of glass, sapphire, magnesium oxide (MgO), mica, polymers (e.g., PEN, PET, PEG, polyolefins, polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, PMMA, polyamide, vinyl Kapton, etc.), ceramics, carbon, composites (e.g., fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon fiber), fabrics (e.g., cotton, nylon, silk, wool), wood, drywall, tile (e.g., ceramic, composite, or clay), metal, silver, gold, aluminum, magnesium, concrete, and combinations thereof.

[0124] As mentioned above, an electrode (e.g., one of electrodes 3902 and 3912 in FIG. 2) may be either an anode or a cathode. In some embodiments, one electrode may function as a cathode and the other as an anode. One or both of electrodes 3902 and 3912 may be coupled to leads, cables, wires, or other means to allow charge transport to and / or from device 3900. The electrodes are comprised of any conductive material, and at least one electrode should be transparent or semi-transparent to EM radiation and / or positioned to allow EM radiation to contact at least a portion of active layer 3950. Suitable electrode materials may include any one or more of indium tin oxide or tin-doped indium oxide (ITO); fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO); cadmium oxide (CdO); zinc indium tin oxide (ZITO); aluminum zinc oxide (AZO); aluminum (Al); gold (Au); silver (Ag); calcium (Ca); chromium (Cr); magnesium (Mg); titanium (Ti); steel; carbon (and their allotropes); doped carbon (e.g., nitrogen-doped); nanoparticles in a core-shell configuration (e.g., silicon-carbon core-shell structure); and combinations thereof.

[0125] The mesoporous material (e.g., material included in mesoporous layer 3904 of FIG. 2) may include any pore-containing material. In an embodiment, the pores may have a diameter in the range of about 1 to about 100 nm. In another embodiment, the pore diameter may be in the range of about 2 to about 50 nm. Suitable mesoporous materials include any of the interfacial materials and / or mesoporous materials discussed elsewhere herein; aluminum (Al); bismuth (Bi); cerium (Ce); hafnium (Hf); indium (In); molybdenum (Mo); niobium (Nb); nickel (Ni); silicon (Si); titanium (Ti); vanadium (V); zinc (Zn); zirconium (Zr); oxides of any one or more of the above metals (e.g., alumina, ceria, titania, zinc oxide, zirconia, etc.); sulfides of any one or more of the above metals; nitrides of any one or more of the above metals; and any one or more combinations thereof. In some embodiments, any of the materials described herein as IFLs may be mesoporous materials. In other embodiments, the device shown in FIG. 2 may not include a mesoporous material layer and may have only a thin film or "compact" IFL that is not mesoporous.

[0126] The photoactive material (e.g., first or second photoactive materials 3906, 3908 of FIG. 2) may have any photoactive compound, such as, for example, silicon (e.g., polycrystalline silicon, single crystal silicon, or amorphous silicon), cadmium telluride, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, copper indium gallium selenide, copper indium selenide, copper zinc sulfide, gallium arsenide, germanium, germanium indium phosphide, indium phosphide, one or more semiconducting polymers (e.g., polythiophene (poly(3-hexylthiophene)) and its derivatives, or P3HT); polyheptadecanylcarbazole dithiophosphate; The copolymer may be one or more of carbazole-based copolymers such as thienobenzothiadiazole and its derivatives (e.g., PCDTBT); other copolymers such as polycyclopentadithiophene-benzothiadiazole and its derivatives (e.g., PCPDTBT), polybenzodithiophenyl-thienothiophenediyl and its derivatives (e.g., PTB6, PTB7, PTB7-th, PCE-10); poly(triarylamine) compounds and their derivatives (e.g., PTAA); polyphenylenevinylene and its derivatives (e.g., MDMO-PPV, MEH-PPV), and combinations thereof.

[0127] In some embodiments, instead or in addition, the photoactive material may include a dye (e.g., N719, N3, other ruthenium-based dyes). In some embodiments, the dye (of any composition) may be coated on another layer (e.g., a mesoporous layer and / or an interfacial layer). In some embodiments, the photoactive material may include one or more perovskite materials. The perovskite-containing photoactive material may be in solid form, or in some embodiments, may be in the form of a dye with a suspension or solution having the perovskite material. Such a solution or suspension may be coated on other device components in a similar manner as other dyes. In some embodiments, the solid perovskite-containing material may be deposited by any suitable means (e.g., vapor deposition, solution deposition, direct placement of solid materials, etc.). Devices according to various embodiments may include one, two, three, or more photoactive compounds (e.g., one, two, three, or more perovskite materials, dyes, or combinations thereof). In some embodiments having multiple dyes or other photoactive materials, each of the two or more dyes or other photoactive materials may be separated by one or more interfacial layers. In some embodiments, the multiple dyes and / or photoactive compounds may be at least partially intermixed.

[0128] The charge transport material (e.g., the charge transport material of the charge transport layer 3910 of FIG. 2) may include a solid-state charge transport material (i.e., colloquially labeled solid electrolyte), or may include a liquid electrolyte and / or an ionic liquid. Liquid electrolytes, ionic liquids, and solid charge transport materials may all be referred to as charge transport materials. As used herein, "charge transport material" refers to any material, solid, liquid, or otherwise, that can collect and / or transport charge carriers. For example, in a PV device according to an embodiment, the charge transport material may be capable of transporting charge carriers to an electrode. The charge carriers may include holes (whose transport can form a charge transport material, such as a "hole transport material," appropriately labeled), and electrons. Holes are transported toward the anode and electrons toward the cathode, depending on the configuration of the charge transport material relative to either the cathode and anode in a PV or other device. Suitable examples of charge transport materials according to an embodiment may include one or more of the following: perovskite materials; I - / I 3-;Co complexes;polythiophenes (e.g., poly(3-hexylthiophene) and its derivatives, or P3HT);carbazole-based copolymers, such as polyheptadecanylcarbazoledithienylbenzothiadiazole, and its derivatives (e.g., PCDTBT);polycyclopentadithiophene-benzothiadiazole and its derivatives (e.g., PCPDTBT) polybenzodithiophenyl-thienothiophenediyl and its derivatives (e.g., PTB6, PTB7, PTB7-th, PCE-10);poly(triarylamine) compounds and their derivatives (e.g., PTAA);spiro-OMeTAD polyphenylenevinylene and its derivatives (e.g., MDMO-PPV, MEH-PPV);fullerenes and / or fullerene derivatives (e.g., C60, PCBM);carbon nanotubes;graphite;graphene;carbon black;amorphous carbon;glassy carbon;and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the charge transport material comprises any material, solid or liquid, capable of collecting charge carriers (electrons or holes) and / or transporting charge carriers; thus, the charge transport material of an embodiment may be an n-type or p-type active, ambipolar, and / or intrinsic semiconductor material. The charge transport material may be disposed in proximity to one of the electrodes of the device. In an embodiment, it may be disposed adjacent to the electrode. However, in other embodiments, an interfacial layer may be disposed between the charge transport material and the electrode (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2, having a fifth interfacial layer 3911). In certain embodiments, the type of charge transport material may be selected based on the electrode it is in proximity to. For example, if the charge transport material collects and / or transports holes, it may be in proximity to the anode and transport holes to the anode. However, the charge transport material may instead be disposed in proximity to the cathode and selected or configured to transport electrons to the cathode.

[0129] As mentioned above, devices according to various embodiments may have an interface layer between any two other layers and / or materials, if necessary. However, devices according to certain embodiments need not have any interface layer. Thus, for example, a perovskite material device may include zero, one, two, three, four, five, or more interface layers (e.g., the exemplary device of FIG. 2 has five interface layers 3903, 3905, 3907, 3909, and 3911). The interface layer may have a thin-film coating interface layer according to the embodiments described above (e.g., alumina and / or other metal oxide particles, and / or titanium oxide / metal oxide bilayers, and / or other compounds according to the thin-film coating interface layers described elsewhere). An interface layer according to certain embodiments may have any suitable material to enhance charge transport and / or collection between two layers or materials. This may also help to avoid or reduce the possibility of charge recombination once a charge has been transported from one of the materials adjacent to the interface layer.Suitable interface materials may include any one or more of the following: any of the mesoporous materials and / or interface materials discussed elsewhere; Ag; Al; Au; B; Bi; Ca; Cd; Ce; Co; Cu; Fe; Ga; Ge; H; In; Mg; Mn; Mo; Nb; Ni; Pt; Sb; Sc; Si; Sn; Ta; Ti; V; W; Y; Zn; Zr; carbides of any of the aforementioned metals (e.g. SiC, Fe3C, WC); any of the aforementioned any of the foregoing metal silicides (e.g., Mg2Si, SrSi2, Sn2Si); any of the foregoing metal oxides (e.g., alumina, silica, titania, SnO2, ZnO); any of the foregoing metal sulfides (e.g., CdS, MoS2, SnS2); any of the foregoing metal nitrides (e.g., Mg3N2, TiN, BN, Si3N4); any of the foregoing metal selenides (e.g., CdSe, FeS2, ZnSe); any of the foregoing metals tellurides (e.g., CdTe, TiTe2, ZnTe); phosphides of any of the aforementioned metals (e.g., InP, GaP); arsenides of any of the aforementioned metals (e.g., CoAs3, GaAs, InGaAs, NiAs); antimonides of any of the aforementioned metals (e.g., AlSb, GaSb, InSb); halides of any of the aforementioned metals (e.g., CuCl, CuI, BiI3); pseudohalides of any of the aforementioned metals (e.g., CuSCN, AuCN2); carbonates of any of the aforementioned metals (e.g., CaCO3, Ce2(CO3)3); functionalized or non-functionalized alkylsilyl groups; graphite; graphene; fullerenes; carbon nanotubes; any of the mesoporous and / or interfacial materials discussed elsewhere; and combinations thereof (including, in some embodiments, bilayers, trilayers, or multilayers of combination materials). In some examples, the interfacial layer may comprise a perovskite material. The interface layer may also include doped embodiments of any of the interface materials listed above (e.g., Y-doped ZnO, N-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes), a triplet of the above (e.g., CuTiO3, Zn2SnO4), or a quadruple of the above (e.g., CoNiZnO).

[0130] As an example, FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a perovskite material device 3900a having a similar structure to the perovskite material device 3900 illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a stylized view of the perovskite material device 3900a according to an embodiment. While various components of the device 3900a are shown as separate layers with adjacent materials, it should be noted that FIG. 3 is a stylized view. Thus, this embodiment may have such separate layers, and / or substantially intermixed non-adjacent layers, which is consistent with the use of "layer" above. FIG. 3 has active layers 3906a and 3908a. In an embodiment, one or both of the active layers 3906a and 3908a may include any of the perovskite photoactive materials illustrated with respect to FIG. 2. In other embodiments, one or both of the active layers 3906a and 3908a may include any photoactive material of the present application, including, for example, thin film semiconductors (e.g., CdTe, CZTS, CIGS), photoactive polymers, dye-sensitized photoactive materials, fullerenes, small molecule photoactive materials, and crystalline and polycrystalline semiconductor materials (e.g., silicon, GaAs, InP, Ge). In yet other embodiments, one or both of the active layers 3906a and 3908a may include light emitting diodes (LEDs), field effect transistors (FETs), thin film cell layers, or combinations thereof. In embodiments, one of the active layers 3906a and 3908a may include a photoactive material and the other may include a light emitting diode (LED), field effect transistor (FET), thin film cell layer, or combinations thereof. For example, the active layer 3908a may include a perovskite material photoactive layer and the active layer 3906b may include a field effect transistor layer. Other layers shown in FIG. 3, such as layers 3901a, 3902a, 3903a, 3904a, 3905a, 3907a, 3909a, 3910a, 3911a, 3912a, and 3913a, may be similar to the corresponding layers as described with respect to FIG.

[0131] Also, in some embodiments, the perovskite material may have more than two active layers. As an example, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a perovskite material device 3900b having a similar structure to the perovskite material device 3900 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a stylized diagram of a perovskite material device 3900b according to some embodiments. It should be noted that while various components of the device 3900b are shown as separate layers with adjacent materials, FIG. 4 is a stylized diagram. Thus, this embodiment may have such separate layers, and / or substantially intermixed non-adjacent layers, which is consistent with the use of "layer" above. FIG. 4 has active layers 3904b, 3906b, and 3908b. In some embodiments, one or more of the active layers 3904b, 3906b, and 3908b may have any of the perovskite photoactive materials shown with respect to FIG. 2. In other embodiments, one or more of the active layers 3904b, 3906b, and 3908b may have any photoactive material described herein, such as thin film semiconductors (e.g., CdTe, CZTS, CIGS), photoactive polymers, dye-sensitized photoactive materials, fullerenes, small molecule photoactive materials, and crystalline and polycrystalline semiconductor materials (e.g., silicon, GaAs, InP, Ge). In yet other embodiments, one or more of the active layers 3904b, 3906b, and 3908b may have a light emitting diode (LED), a field effect transistor (FET), a thin film cell layer, or a combination thereof. In embodiments, one or more of the active layers 3904b, 3906b, and 3908b may have a photoactive material and the other may have a light emitting diode (LED), a field effect transistor (FET), a thin film cell layer, or a combination thereof. For example, active layers 3908a and 3906b may both comprise a perovskite material photoactive layer, and active layer 3904b may comprise a field effect transistor layer. Other layers shown in Figure 3, such as layers 3901b, 3902b, 3903b, 3904b, 3905b, 3907b, 3909b, 3910b, 3911b, 3912b, and 3913b, may be similar to the corresponding layers as described with respect to Figure 2.

[0132] Additional more specific exemplary embodiments of perovskite devices are discussed with respect to further stylized descriptions of the devices as examples. The stylized nature of these descriptions of Figures 1-4 is likewise not intended to limit the type of device. In an embodiment, this may be configured according to one or more of Figures 1-4. That is, the architecture described in Figures 1-4 may be adapted to provide BHJs, batteries, FETs, hybrid PV batteries, serial multi-cell PVs, parallel multi-cell PVs, and other similar devices of other embodiments of the present disclosure by any suitable means (including both those explicitly shown elsewhere in this application and other suitable means apparent to those of skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure).

[0133] Formation of perovskite material active layer As mentioned above, in some embodiments the perovskite material in the active layer has the general formula CMX 3-y X'y (0 > y > 3), where C has one or more cations (e.g., amines, ammonium, Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, formamidinium, guanidinium, ethenetetramine, phosphonium, imidazolium, and / or other cations or cationic compounds), M has one or more metals (e.g., Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr), and X and X' have one or more anions. In some embodiments, the perovskite material is CPbI 3-y Cl y In an embodiment, the perovskite material may be deposited as an active layer of a PV device onto a substrate layer using the processes described below, for example by drop casting, spin casting, slot-die printing, screen printing, or inkjet printing.

[0134] First, a lead halide precursor ink is formed. A quantity of lead halide may be assembled in a clean, dry container in a controlled atmosphere environment (e.g., a controlled atmosphere box with a globe-containing porthole allows for manipulation of the material in an air-free environment). Suitable lead halides include, but are not limited to, lead (II) iodide, lead (II) bromide, lead (II) chloride, and lead (II) fluoride. The lead halide may have a single species of lead halide or may have a mixture of lead halides in precise ratios. In an embodiment, the lead halide mixture may have any binary, ternary, or quaternary ratio of 0.001 to 100 mole % of iodide, bromide, chloride, or fluoride. In an embodiment, the lead halide mixture may have lead (II) chloride and lead (II) iodide in a ratio of about 10 mol:90 mol. In another embodiment, the lead halide mixture may have lead(II) chloride and lead(II) iodide in a ratio of about 5:95, about 7.5:92.5, or about 15 mol:85 mol.

[0135] Alternatively, other lead salt precursors may be used in conjunction with or in place of the lead halide salts to form the precursor ink. Suitable precursor salts may have lead(II) or lead(IV) in any combination with the following anions: nitrate, nitrite, carboxylate, acetate, acetonylacetonate, formate, oxalate, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, phosphate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, tetra(perfluorophenyl)borate, hydride, oxide, peroxide, hydroxide, nitride, arsenate, arsenite, perchlorate, carbonate, bicarbonate, chromate, dichromate, iodate, bromate, chlorate, chlorite, hypochlorite, hypobromite, cyanate, cyanide, isocyanate, fulminate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, azide, tetracarbonylcobaltate, carbamoyldicyanomethanide, dicyanonitrosomethanide, dicyanamide, tricyanomethanide, amide, and permanganate.

[0136] Additionally, the precursor ink may have as a salt of said anion a lead(II) or lead(IV) salt in a molar ratio of 0-100% for the following metal ions: Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr.

[0137] A solvent may then be added to the vessel to dissolve the lead solids and form the lead halide precursor ink. Suitable solvents may include, but are not limited to, dry N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the lead solids are dissolved in dry dimethylformamide (DMF). The lead solids may be dissolved at a temperature between about 20 and about 150° C. In one embodiment, the lead solids are dissolved at about 85° C. The lead solids are dissolved as necessary to form a solution, which may be carried out for a period of up to about 72 hours. The resulting solution forms the base of the lead halide precursor ink. In some embodiments, the lead halide precursor ink may have a lead halide concentration of about 0.001 M to about 10 M. In some embodiments, the lead halide precursor ink has a lead halide concentration of about 1 M.

[0138] If necessary, certain additives may be added to the lead halide precursor ink to affect the crystallinity and stability of the final perovskite. In an embodiment, the lead halide precursor ink may further comprise an amino acid (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid, histidine, glycine, lysine), an amino acid hydrogen halide (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride), an IFL surface modification (SAM) agent (e.g., as previously described herein), or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, formamidinium chloride may be added to the lead halide precursor ink. In other embodiments, halides of any of the cations previously described herein may be used. In an embodiment, a combination of additives may be added to the lead halide precursor ink, including, for example, a combination of formamidinium chloride and 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride.

[0139] For purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the discussion to any particular mechanistic theory, formamidinium chloride and 5-aminovaleric acid have been observed to improve the stability of perovskite PV devices when used as additives or countercations in the fabrication of one-step perovskite devices. Chloride, in the form of PbCl2, has also been observed to improve the performance of perovskite PV devices when added to a PbI2 precursor solution in a two-step process. It has been observed that the two-step perovskite thin film deposition process can be improved by adding formamidinium chloride and / or 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride directly to a lead halide precursor solution (e.g., PbI2), allowing the benefits of both to be utilized in a single material. Similarly, other perovskite film formation processes can be improved by adding formamidinium chloride, 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride, or PbCl2 to a lead halide precursor solution.

[0140] Depending on the desired properties of the resulting perovskite material, an additive having formamidinium chloride and / or 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride may be added to the lead halide precursor ink in various concentrations. In an embodiment, the additive may be added at a concentration of about 1 nM to about 1 M. In another embodiment, the additive may be added at a concentration of about 1 μM to about 1 M. In another embodiment, the additive may be added at a concentration of about 1 μM to about 1 mM.

[0141] In an embodiment, water may be added to the lead halide precursor ink if necessary. For purposes of illustration and not intended to limit discussion to any particular mechanistic theory, the presence of water affects perovskite thin film crystal growth. Under normal circumstances, water may be absorbed as vapor from the air. However, it is possible to control the crystallinity of the perovskite PV by adding water directly to the lead halide precursor ink in a specific concentration. Suitable water includes distilled water, deionized water, or other water sources that are substantially free of contaminants (including minerals). Based on optical IV sweeps, it has been observed that the addition of water nearly triples the efficiency of perovskite PV light-to-power conversion compared to a completely dry device.

[0142] Water may be added to the lead halide precursor ink at various concentrations depending on the desired properties of the resulting perovskite material. In one embodiment, water may be added at a concentration of about 1 nL / mL to about 1 mL / mL. In another embodiment, water may be added at a concentration of about 1 μL / mL to about 0.1 mL / mL. In another embodiment, water may be added at a concentration of about 1 μL / mL to about 20 μL / mL.

[0143] The lead halide precursor ink may then be deposited on a desired substrate. Suitable substrate layers may include any substrate layer identified previously in this disclosure. As previously described, the lead halide precursor ink may be deposited via various means, including, but not limited to, drop casting, spin casting, slot die printing, screen printing, or inkjet printing. In certain embodiments, the lead halide precursor ink may be spin coated onto the substrate at a speed of about 500 rpm to about 10,000 rpm for a period of about 5 seconds to about 600 seconds. In certain embodiments, the lead halide precursor ink may be deposited on the substrate at about 3000 rpm for about 30 seconds. The lead halide precursor ink may be deposited on the substrate in an ambient atmosphere in a humidity range of about 0% relative humidity to about 50% relative humidity. The lead halide precursor ink may then be dried in a substantially water-free atmosphere, i.e., an atmosphere with a relative humidity of less than 30%, to form a thin film.

[0144] The thin film may then be thermally annealed at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 300° C. for a period of up to about 24 hours. In some embodiments, the thin film may be thermally annealed at a temperature of about 50° C. for about 10 minutes. The perovskite material active layer may then be completed by conventional processes. In this case, the precursor film is immersed or rinsed in a solution containing a solvent or mixture of solvents (e.g., DMF, isopropanol, methanol, ethanol, butanol, chloroform chlorobenzene, dimethyl sulfoxide, water) and a salt (e.g., methylammonium iodide, formamidinium iodide, guanidinium iodide, 1,2,2-triaminovinylammonium iodide, 5-aminovaleric acid hydroiodide) at a concentration between 0.001 M and 10 M. Also, in some embodiments, the thin film may be thermally post-annealed in the same manner as in the first line of this paragraph.

[0145] In an embodiment, a lead salt precursor may be deposited on a substrate to form a lead salt thin film. The substrate may have a temperature approximately equal to ambient temperature or may have a controlled temperature between 0° C. and 500° C. The lead salt precursor may be deposited by a variety of conventional methods, including but not limited to spin coating, slot die printing, inkjet printing, gravure printing, screen printing, sputtering, PE-CVD, thermal evaporation, or spray coating. The deposition of the lead salt precursor may be performed in a variety of atmospheres, at atmospheric pressure (e.g., about 1 atm, depending on altitude and atmospheric conditions), or at pressures below atmospheric pressure (e.g., 1 mTorr to 500 mTorr). The deposition atmosphere may be ambient air, a controlled humidity environment (e.g., 0-100 g H2O / m 2 of gas), or a controlled humidity environment (e.g., 0-100 g H2O / m 2 of gas). 3 ), pure argon, pure nitrogen, pure oxygen, pure hydrogen, pure helium, pure neon, pure krypton, pure CO2, or a combination of any of the aforementioned gases. A controlled humidity environment may include an environment in which the absolute humidity or % relative humidity is held at a fixed value, or in which the absolute humidity or % relative humidity varies according to a predefined set point or predefined function. In certain embodiments, installation may be in a controlled humidity environment having a % relative humidity of greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 50%. In other embodiments, installation may be in a controlled humidity environment having a % relative humidity of greater than or equal to 0 g H2O / m 3 Gas, 20g H2O / m 3 It may be carried out in a gas-free, controlled humidity environment.

[0146] The lead salt precursor may be a liquid, gas, solid, or a combination of these states, such as a solution, suspension, colloid, foam, gel, or aerosol. In some embodiments, the lead salt precursor may be a solution containing one or more solvents. For example, the lead salt precursor may have one or more of N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof. The lead salt precursor may include a single lead salt (e.g., lead(II) iodide, lead(II) thiocyanate), or any combination disclosed herein (e.g., PbI2+PbCl2; PbI2+Pb(SCN)2). The lead salt precursor may also have one or more additives, such as an amino acid (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid hydroiodide), 1,8-diiodooctane, 1,8-dithiooctane, formamidinium halide, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methylammonium halide, or water. The lead halide precursor ink is dried in a substantially water-free atmosphere, i.e., an atmosphere having a relative humidity of less than 30%, to form a thin film. The thin film may then be thermally annealed at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 300° C. for a period of up to about 24 hours. The annealing may be performed in a variety of atmospheres, at ambient pressure (e.g., about 1 atm, depending on altitude and atmospheric conditions), or at atmospheric or subambient pressure (e.g., 1 mTorr to 500 mTorr). The annealing atmosphere may be ambient air, a controlled humidity environment (e.g., 0-100 g HO / m of gas), or a controlled humidity environment (e.g., 0-100 g HO / m of gas). 3The controlled humidity environment may comprise pure argon, pure nitrogen, pure oxygen, pure hydrogen, pure helium, pure neon, pure krypton, pure CO2, or any combination of the aforementioned gases. The controlled humidity environment may comprise an environment in which the absolute humidity or % relative humidity is held at a constant value or in which the absolute humidity or % relative humidity varies according to a predefined set point or predefined function. In certain embodiments, the annealing may be performed in a controlled humidity environment having a % relative humidity of greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 50%. In other embodiments, the annealing may be performed in a controlled humidity environment having a % relative humidity of greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 50%. 0g H2O / m 3 Gases and 20g H2O / m 3 It may be carried out in a controlled humidity environment with the following gases:

[0147] After the lead salt precursor is deposited, a second salt precursor (e.g., formamidinium iodide, formamidinium thiocyanate, or guanidinium thiocyanate) may be deposited on the lead salt thin film. Here, the lead salt thin film may have a controlled temperature between about ambient temperature or between 0°C and 500°C. In some embodiments, the second salt precursor may be deposited at ambient temperature or at an elevated temperature between about 25°C and 125°C. The second salt precursor may be deposited by various conventional methods, including, but not limited to, spin coating, slot die printing, inkjet printing, gravure printing, screen printing, sputtering, PE-CVD, thermal evaporation, or spray coating. Deposition of the second salt precursor may be performed in various atmospheres at ambient pressure (e.g., about 1 atm, depending on altitude and atmospheric conditions), or at atmospheric or subambient pressure (e.g., 1 mTorr to 500 mTorr). The deposition atmosphere can be ambient air, a controlled humidity environment (e.g., 0–100 g HO / m of gas). 3), pure argon, pure nitrogen, pure oxygen, pure hydrogen, pure helium, pure neon, pure krypton, pure CO2, or any combination of the aforementioned gases. A controlled humidity environment may include an environment in which the absolute humidity or % relative humidity is held at a constant value, or in which the absolute humidity or % relative humidity is varied according to a predetermined set point or function. In certain embodiments, deposition may occur in a controlled humidity environment having a % relative humidity of greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 50%. In other embodiments, deposition may occur in a controlled humidity environment having a % relative humidity of greater than or equal to 0 g H2O / m 3 More than 20g H2O / m 3 It may be carried out in a controlled humidity environment with the following gases:

[0148] In some embodiments, the second salt precursor may be a solution containing one or more solvents. For example, the second salt precursor may contain one or more of dry N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof.

[0149] After deposition of the lead salt precursor and the second salt precursor, the substrate may be annealed. Annealing the substrate may convert the lead salt precursor and the second salt precursor to a perovskite material (e.g., FAPbI3, GAPb(SCN)3, FASnI3). The annealing may be performed in a variety of atmospheres, at ambient pressure (e.g., about 1 atm, depending on altitude and atmospheric conditions), or at atmospheric or subambient pressure (e.g., 1 mTorr to 500 mTorr). The annealing atmosphere may be ambient air, a controlled humidity environment (e.g., 0-100 g HO / m of gas), or a controlled humidity environment (e.g., 0-100 g HO / m of gas). 3), pure argon, pure nitrogen, pure oxygen, pure hydrogen, pure helium, pure neon, pure krypton, pure CO2, or any combination of the aforementioned gases. A controlled humidity environment may include an environment in which the absolute humidity or % relative humidity is held at a constant value or in which the absolute humidity or % relative humidity is varied according to a predetermined set point or function. In certain embodiments, the annealing may be performed in a controlled humidity environment having a relative humidity of greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 50%. In other embodiments, the annealing may be performed in a controlled humidity environment having a relative humidity of greater than or equal to 0 g H2O / m 3 More than 20g H2O / m 3 The annealing may be performed in a controlled humidity environment having the following gases: In one embodiment, the annealing may be performed at a temperature of at least 50° C. and at most 300° C. Unless otherwise stated, any annealing or deposition step described herein may be performed under the aforementioned conditions.

[0150] For example, in certain embodiments, the FAPbI3 perovskite material may be formed by the following process. First, a lead (II) halide precursor having a molar ratio of PbI2 to PbCl2 of about 90:10 dissolved in anhydrous DMF may be deposited on a substrate by spin coating or slot die printing. The lead halide precursor ink may be dried for about 1 hour (±15 minutes) in a substantially water-free atmosphere, i.e., an atmosphere with a relative humidity of less than 30%, to form a thin film. The thin film may then be thermally annealed at a temperature of about 50°C (±10°C) for about 10 minutes. In other embodiments, the lead halide precursor may be deposited by inkjet printing, gravure printing, screen printing, sputtering, PE-CVD, atomic layer deposition, thermal evaporation, or spray coating. Then, a formamidinium iodide precursor having a concentration of 25-60 mg / mL of formamidinium iodide dissolved in anhydrous isopropyl alcohol may be deposited on the lead halide thin film by spin coating or slot die printing. In other embodiments, the formamidinium iodide precursor may be deposited by inkjet printing, gravure printing, screen printing, sputtering, PE-CVD, atomic layer deposition, thermal evaporation, or spray coating. After depositing the lead halide precursor and the formamidinium iodide precursor, the solution is cooled to about 25% relative humidity (about 4-7 g HO / m 3 The substrate may be annealed at 300° C. (air) and between about 125° C. and 200° C. to form a formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite material.

[0151] In another embodiment, the perovskite material may have C'CPbX3, where C' is one or more Group 1 metals (i.e., Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs). In certain embodiments, M' may be cesium (Cs). In another embodiment, C' may be rubidium (Rb). In another embodiment, C' may be sodium (Na). In another embodiment, C' may be potassium (K). In yet other embodiments, the perovskite material may have C' v C w Pby X z where C′ is one or more Group 1 metals and v, w, y, and z represent real numbers between 1 and 20. In certain embodiments, the perovskite material may be deposited as an active layer onto a substrate layer, for example by drop casting, spin casting, gravure coating, blade coating, reverse gravure coating, slot-die printing, screen printing, or inkjet printing, using the steps described below.

[0152] First, a lead halide solution is formed. A quantity of lead halide is contained in a clean, dry container in a controlled atmosphere. Suitable lead halides include, but are not limited to, lead(II) iodide, lead(II) bromide, lead(II) chloride, and lead(II) fluoride. The lead halide may include a single species of lead halide or may include a mixture of lead halides in precise ratios. In an embodiment, the lead halide may have lead(II) iodide. In certain embodiments, the lead halide mixture may have any binary, ternary, or quaternary ratio of 0.001-100 mole % of iodide, bromide, chloride, or fluoride. In an embodiment, the lead halide mixture may have lead(II) chloride and lead(II) iodide in about a 10:90 molar ratio. In another embodiment, the lead halide mixture may have lead(II) chloride and lead(II) iodide in a molar ratio of about 5:95, about 7.5:92.5, or about 15:85.

[0153] Alternatively, another lead salt precursor may be used in conjunction with or in place of the lead halide salt to form the lead salt solution. Suitable precursor lead salts may have lead(II) or lead(IV) in any combination with the following anions: nitrate, nitrite, carboxylate, acetate, formate, oxalate, oxalate, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, phosphate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, tetra(perfluorophenyl)borate, hydride, oxide, peroxide, hydroxide, nitride, arsenate, arsenite, perchlorate, carbonate, bicarbonate, chromate, dichromate, iodate, bromate, chlorate, chlorite, hypochlorite, hypobromite, cyanide, cyanate, cyanide, isocyanate, fulminate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, azide, tetracarbonylcobaltate, carbamoyldicyanomethanide, dicyanonitrosomethanide, dicyanomethanide, tricyanomethanide, amide, and permanganate.

[0154] The lead salt solution may further contain, as a salt of the above anion, a lead(II) salt or a lead(IV) salt in a molar ratio of 0 to 100% relative to the following metal ions: Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr.

[0155] A solvent may then be added to the container to dissolve the lead halide solids and form a lead halide solution. Suitable solvents include, but are not limited to, dry N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide (DMF), dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the lead solids are dissolved in dry dimethylformamide (DMF). The lead halide solids may be dissolved at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 150° C. In an embodiment, the lead halide solids are dissolved at about 85° C. The lead halide solids may be dissolved as necessary to form a solution, which may be done for a period of up to about 72 hours. The resulting solution forms the base of the lead halide precursor ink. In some embodiments, the lead halide precursor ink may have a lead halide concentration of about 0.001 M to about 10 M. In some embodiments, the lead halide precursor ink has a lead halide concentration of about 1 M. In some embodiments, the lead halide solution may further comprise an amino acid (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid, histidine, glycine, lysine), an amino acid hydrogen halide (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride), an IFL surface active (SAM) agent (e.g., those described herein), or a combination thereof.

[0156] A Group 1 metal halide solution is then formed. A quantity of Group 1 metal halide is contained in a controlled atmosphere environment of a clean dry container. Suitable Group 1 metal halides may include, but are not limited to, cesium iodide, cesium bromide, cesium chloride, cesium fluoride, rubidium iodide, rubidium bromide, rubidium chloride, rubidium fluoride, lithium iodide, lithium bromide, lithium chloride, lithium fluoride, sodium iodide, sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium fluoride, potassium iodide, potassium bromide, potassium chloride, potassium fluoride. The Group 1 metal halide may include a single species of Group 1 metal halide or may include a mixture of Group 1 metal halides in precise ratios. In one embodiment, the Group 1 metal halide may include cesium iodide. In another embodiment, the Group 1 metal halide may include rubidium iodide. In another embodiment, the Group 1 metal halide may comprise sodium iodide.In another embodiment, the Group 1 metal halide may comprise potassium iodide.

[0157] Alternatively, other Group 1 metal salt precursors may be used in conjunction with or in place of the Group 1 metal halide salt to form the Group 1 metal salt solution. Suitable precursor Group 1 metal salts may have any combination of Group 1 metals and the following anions: nitrate, nitrite, carboxylate, acetate, formate, oxalate, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, phosphate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, tetra(perfluorophenyl)borate, hydride, oxide, peroxide, hydroxide, nitride, arsenate, arsenite, perchlorate, carbonate, bicarbonate, chromate, iodate, bromate, chlorate, chlorite, hypochlorite, hypobromite, cyanate, cyanide, isocyanate, fulminate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, azide, tetracarbonylcobaltate, carbamoyldicyanomethanide, dicyanonitrosomethanide, dicyanonemethanide, tricyanomethanide, amide, and permanganate.

[0158] A solvent may then be added to the vessel to dissolve the Group 1 metal halide solids and form a Group 1 metal halide solution. Suitable solvents include, but are not limited to, dry N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide (DMF), dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the lead solids are dissolved in dry dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The Group 1 metal halide solids may be dissolved at a temperature between about 20 and about 150° C. In an embodiment, the Group 1 metal halide solids are dissolved at room temperature (i.e., about 25° C.). The Group 1 metal halide solids may be dissolved as necessary to form a solution, which may be carried out for a period of up to about 72 hours. The resulting solution forms a Group 1 metal halide solution. In some embodiments, the Group 1 metal halide solution may have a Group 1 metal halide concentration between about 0.001 M and about 10 M. In some embodiments, the Group 1 metal halide solution has a Group 1 metal halide concentration of about 1 M. In some aspects, the Group 1 metal halide solution may further contain an amino acid (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid, histidine, glycine, lysine), an amino acid hydrohalide acid (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride), an IFL surface modification (SAM) agent (e.g., those described herein), or a combination thereof.

[0159] The lead halide solution and the Group 1 metal halide solution are then mixed to form a thin film precursor ink. The lead halide solution and the Group 1 metal halide solution may be mixed in a ratio such that the resulting thin film precursor ink has a molar concentration of the Group 1 metal halide between 0% and 25% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of the Group 1 metal halide that is 1% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of the Group 1 metal halide that is 5% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of the Group 1 metal halide that is 10% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of the Group 1 metal halide that is 15% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of the Group 1 metal halide that is 20% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of Group 1 metal halide that is 25% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In some embodiments, the lead halide solution and the Group 1 metal halide solution may be agitated during or after mixing.

[0160] The thin film precursor ink may then be deposited on a desired substrate. Suitable substrate layers may include any of the substrate layers identified above. As previously described, the thin film precursor ink may be deposited via a variety of means, including, but not limited to, drop casting, spin casting, gravure coating, blade coating, reverse gravure coating, slot die printing, screen printing, or inkjet printing. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may be spin coated onto the substrate at a speed of about 500 rpm to about 10,000 rpm for a time of about 5 seconds to about 600 seconds. In one embodiment, the thin film precursor ink may be spin coated onto the substrate at about 3000 rpm for about 30 seconds. The thin film precursor ink may be deposited onto the substrate in an ambient atmosphere with a humidity range of about 0% relative humidity to about 50% relative humidity. The thin film precursor ink may then be deposited in a substantially water-free atmosphere, i.e., a relative humidity of less than 30%, or less than 7 g H2O / m 3 The solution may be dried at less than 200° C. to form a thin film.

[0161] The thin film may then be thermally annealed at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 300° C. for a period of up to about 24 hours. In some embodiments, the thin film may be thermally annealed at a temperature of about 50° C. for about 10 minutes. The conversion process then completes the perovskite material active layer. In this case, the precursor film is immersed or rinsed in a solvent or mixture of solvents (e.g., DMF, isopropanol, methanol, ethanol, butanol, chloroform chlorobenzene, dimethyl sulfoxide, water) and a salt solution containing a concentration of between 0.001 M and 10 M (e.g., methylammonium iodide, formamidinium iodide, guanidinium iodide, 1,2,2-triaminovinylammonium iodide, 5-aminovaleric acid hydroiodide). In some embodiments, the perovskite material thin film may also be thermally post-annealed in the same manner as in the first line of this paragraph.

[0162] In an embodiment, the salt solution may be prepared by collecting the salt in a clean, dry container in a controlled environmental atmosphere. Suitable salts include, but are not limited to, methylammonium iodide, formamidinium iodide, guanidinium iodide, imidazolium iodide, ethenetetramine iodide, 1,2,2-triaminovinylammonium iodide, and 5-aminovaleric acid hydroiodide. Other suitable salts may have any of the organic cations listed in the chapter entitled "Perovskite Materials." The salt may have a single salt or a mixture of salts in precise ratios. In an embodiment, the salt may have methylammonium iodide. In another embodiment, the salt may include formamidinium iodide. A solvent may then be added to the container to dissolve the salt solids and form a salt solution. Suitable solvents include, but are not limited to, DMF, isopropanol, methanol, ethanol, butanol, chloroform chlorobenzene, dimethylsulfoxide, water, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the formamidinium iodide salt solid is dissolved in isopropanol. The salt solid may be dissolved at a temperature between about 20 and about 150° C. In one embodiment, the salt solid is dissolved at room temperature (i.e., about 25° C.). The salt solid may be dissolved as necessary to form a solution, which may be carried out for a period of up to about 72 hours. The resulting solution forms a salt solution. In an embodiment, the salt solution may have a salt concentration of about 0.001 M to about 10 M. In an embodiment, the salt solution has a salt concentration of about 1 M.

[0163] For example, using the above-mentioned method, lead(II) iodide solution, cesium iodide solution, and methylammonium iodide (MA) salt solution were used to obtain Cs i A perovskite material having the general formula of MAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, may be obtained. As another example, a lead(II) iodide solution, a rubidium iodide solution, and a formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution may be used to obtain a perovskite material having the general formula Rb iA perovskite material having FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, may be obtained. As another example, a lead(II) iodide solution, a cesium iodide solution, and a formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution may be used to produce Cs i A perovskite material having the general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, may be obtained. As another example, a lead(II) iodide solution, a potassium iodide solution, and a formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution may be used to obtain a perovskite material having the general formula KAPbI3. i A perovskite material having FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, may be obtained. As another example, a lead(II) iodide solution, a sodium iodide solution, and a formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution may be used to obtain Na i A perovskite material may be obtained having a general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1. As another example, lead(II) iodide-chloride(II) mixed solution, cesium iodide solution, and formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution may be used to produce Cs i FAPbI 3-y Cl y A perovskite material may be obtained having the general formula: where i is a number between 0 and 1 and y is a number between 0 and 3.

[0164] In certain embodiments, the lead halide solution may have a molar ratio of PbI2 to PbCl2 of 90:10. A cesium iodide (CsI) solution may be added to the lead halide solution to form a thin film precursor ink having 10 mol% CsI according to the method. A FAPbI3 perovskite material may be produced using the thin film precursor solution according to the method. As described above, the addition of cesium ions via the CsI solution incorporates chloride anions and cesium atoms into the FAPbI3 crystal lattice. This may result in a greater degree of lattice contraction than would be the case if cesium or rubidium ions were added without the addition of chloride ions, as described above. Table 1 below shows the lattice parameters of FAPbI3 perovskite materials with 10 mol% rubidium and 20 mol% chloride (e.g., 10 mol% PbCl2), 10 mol% cesium, and 10 mol% cesium with 20 mol% chloride, where the mol% concentration represents the concentration of the additive relative to the lead atoms in the lead halide solution. As can be seen in Table 1, the FAPbI3 perovskite material with the addition of cesium and chloride has a smaller lattice parameter than the other two perovskite material samples.

[0165] [Table 1] The data also showed that rubidium, cesium and / or chloride doped FAPbI3 perovskite materials have a Pm3-m cubic structure. FAPbI3 perovskites with 10 mol% Rb and 10 mol% Cl, or 10 mol% Cs, or 10 mol% Cs and 10 mol% Cl were observed to maintain the cubic Pm3-m cubic structure. Figure 29 shows the X-ray diffraction patterns corresponding to each sample listed in Table 1. Tables 2-4 show the X-ray diffraction peaks and intensities for the three perovskite materials listed in Table 1. Data were collected at ambient conditions on a Rigaku Miniflex 600 using a CuKα radiation source at a scan rate of 1.5°2θ / min.

[0166] [Table 2]

[0167] [Table 3]

[0168] [Table 4] The geometrically predicted X-ray diffraction patterns for cubic Pm3-m material with lattice constant = 6.3375 Angstroms under Cu-Kα radiation are shown in Table 5. As can be seen from the data, perovskite materials made with 10 mol% Rb and 10 mol% Cl, 10 mol% Cs, and 10% Cs and 10% Cl each have diffraction patterns that match the pattern expected for cubic Pm3-m perovskite material.

[0169] [Table 5] (Reinforced Perovskite) So-called "layered" 2D perovskites are known to form when perovskites are formed with organic cations that have longer alkyl chains than the aforementioned methylammonium and formamidinium cations. Layered 2D perovskites have structures such as the Rdolzden-Popper phase, the Dion-Jacobson phase, and the Aurivillius phase. For example, by substituting 1-butylammonium instead of methylammonium or the other cations mentioned above, the Rdolzden-Popper 2D perovskite arises during the formation of the perovskite in a "one-step" method (not described in this application). In such perovskites, the 1-butylammonium prevents the perovskite from forming a perfect crystal lattice, and instead the perovskite forms in "sheets" of perovskite with the thickness of a single crystal structure. Figure 5 shows the Rdolzden-Popper structure 5500, which has a 1-butylammonium cation 5510. As can be seen from Figure 5, the butylammonium cation "tail" creates a separation between the lead and iodide portions of the perovskite material and other lead and iodide structures, resulting in 2D perovskite "sheets." Therefore, the introduction of "bulky" organic cations, such as 1-butylammonium or benzylammonium, during the formation of the perovskite material is not preferred if the Rdolsden-Popper morphology of the perovskite is not desired.

[0170] However, if a dilute amount of 1-butylammonium solution is added prior to annealing the perovskite material, a perovskite may form as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a perovskite material 2000 to which alkylammonium cations have been added for surface passivation. In the embodiment shown, the surface of a formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite material 2010 is shown having 1-butylammonium cations 2020 on the surface. In some embodiments, the 1-butylammonium cations, or other "bulky" organic cations, may diffuse into the perovskite material near the surface of the crystal lattice of the perovskite material. In certain embodiments, the 1-butylammonium cations, or other "bulky" organic cations described herein, may reside in the perovskite material no more than 50 nm from the crystal lattice surface or grain boundaries. The inclusion of "bulky" organic cations, such as 1-butylammonium, at or near the surface of the perovskite material results in a general formula for the perovskite material that deviates from the "ideal" stoichiometry of the perovskite material described herein. For example, the inclusion of such organic cations may result in a perovskite material having a general formula that is either sub-stoichiometric or superstoichiometric with respect to the CMX3 formula described herein. In this case, the general formula for the perovskite material is: x M y X z where x, y and z are real numbers. In some embodiments, the perovskite material may be represented by the general formula C'C n-1 M n X 3n-1 where n is an integer. For example, when n=1, the perovskite material has the general formula C'MX, when n=2, the perovskite material has the general formula C'CMX, when n=3, the perovskite material has the general formula C'CMCX. 10 where n=4, the perovskite material has the general formula C'C'M'X 13 As shown in FIG. 30, the n value indicates the thickness of the inorganic metal halide sublattice of the perovskite material. n-1M n X 3n-1 can form in regions where bulky organic cations have diffused or been incorporated into the crystal lattice of the perovskite material. For example, such phases may be present within 50 nanometers of a crystal lattice surface (e.g., a surface or grain boundary) of the perovskite material with bulky organic cations described herein.

[0171] The carbon "tail" of the 1-butylammonium ion may provide protective properties to the surface of the perovskite by effectively keeping other molecules away from the surface. In some embodiments, the alkyl group "tail" of the 1-butylammonium ion may be oriented away from the surface of the perovskite material or parallel to the surface of the perovskite material. In particular, the 1-butylammonium "tail" may have hydrophobic properties, which may prevent water molecules from contacting the surface of the perovskite material, protecting the surface of the perovskite material 2010 from moisture in the environment. The 1-butylammonium cation may also act to passivate the surface and grain boundaries or defects of the perovskite material 2010. Passivation refers to an electrical property that prevents the accumulation of charge, or "trap states", at the surface or grain boundaries of the perovskite material 2010. By acting to passivate part of the perovskite material 2010, 1-butylammonium may improve charge transfer to and from the perovskite material 2010, improving the electrical properties of the photoactive layer.

[0172] In some embodiments, other organic cations may be applied in place of or in combination with 1-butylammonium. Examples of other "bulky" organic cations that may act on surface-passivated perovskite materials include, but are not limited to, ethylammonium, propylammonium, n-butylammonium; perylene n-butylamine-imide; butane-1,4-diammonium; 1-pentylammonium; 1-hexylammonium; poly(vinylammonium); phenylethylammonium; 3-phenyl-1-propylammonium; 4-phenyl-1-butylammonium; 1,3-dimethylbutylammonium; 3,3-dimethylbutylammonium; 1-heptylammonium; 1-octylammonium; 1-nonylammonium; 1-decylammonium; and 1-icosanylammonium. Also, in bulky organic cations with tails that include one or more heteroatoms in addition to the cationic species, the heteroatoms may coordinate, bond, or integrate with the perovskite material crystal lattice. The heteroatoms may be any atom in the tail that is not hydrogen or carbon, including nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, or phosphorus.

[0173] Other examples of "bulky" organic cations may include the following molecules functionalized with ammonium, phosphonium, or other cationic groups that are integrated into the surface C sites of the perovskite material: benzene, pyridine, naphthalene, anthracene, xanthene, phenanthrene, tetracene, chrysene, tetraphene, benzo[c]phenanthrene, triphenylene, pyrene, perylene, coronene, substituted dicarboxylic acid imides, aniline, N-(2-aminoethyl)-2-isoindole-1,3-diamine ... , 2-(1-aminoethyl)naphthalene, 2-triphenylene-O-ethylamine, benzylamine, benzylammonium salt, Nn-butyl-N'-4-aminobutylperylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide), 1-(4-alkylphenyl)methanamine, 1-(4-alkyl-2-phenyl)methanamine, 1-(4-alkylphenyl)methanamine, 1-(3-alkyl-5-alkylphenyl)methanamine, 1-(3-alkyl-5-alkyl-2-phenyl)methanamine N-aminoalkyl-N'-4-aminobutylperylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide), 1-(3-butyl-5-methoxybutylphenyl)methanamine, 1-(4-pentylphenyl)methanamine, 2-ethylamine-7-alkyl-naphthalene, 2-ethylamine-6-alkyl-naphthalene, 1-ethylamine-7-alkyl-naphthalene, 1-ethylamine-6-alkyl-naphthalene, N-aminoalkyl-N'-4-aminobutylperylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide), 1-(3-butyl-5-methoxybutylphenyl)methanamine, 1-(4-pentylphenyl)methanamine 1-[4-(2-methylpentyl)-2-phenyl]ethanamine, 1-(3-butyl-5-pentyl-2-phenyl)ethanamine, 2-(5-[4-methylpentyl]-2-naphthyl)ethanamine, N-7-tridecyl-N'-4-aminobutylperylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide), Nn-heptyl-N'-4-aminobutylperylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide), 2-(6-[3-methoxypropyl]-2-naphthyl)ethanamine. Figures 17-28 show structures of these organic molecules according to certain embodiments. With reference to Figures 17 and 18, each "R group" R xcan be =H, R', Me, Et, Pr, Ph, Bz, F, Cl, Br, I, NO2, OR', NR'2, SCN, CN, N3, SR', where R' can be any alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl chain. x At least one of the groups is (CH2) n EX y or (CH2) n C(EX y)2, where n and y=0, 1, 2, or more, and n and y may be equal or different. Additionally, with reference to Figure 19, the depicted molecules may have any hydrohalide salt, such as a benzylammonium salt, of each depicted amine, where the depicted X groups may be F, Cl, Br, I, SCN, CN, or any other pseudohalide. Other non-halide tolerant anions include nitrate, nitrite, carboxylate, acetate, acetonylacetonate, formate, oxalate, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, phosphate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, tetra(perfluorophenyl)borate, hydride, oxide, peroxide, hydroxide, nitride, arsenate, arsenite, perchlorate, carbonate, bicarbonate, chromate, dichromate, iodate, bromate, chlorate, hypochlorite, chlorite, hypobromite, cyanide, cyanate, isocyanate, fulminate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, azide, tetracarbonylcobaltate, carbamoyldicyanonemethanide, dicyanonitrosomethanide, dicyanonemethanide, tricyanomethanide, amide, and permanganate.Suitable R groups also include, but are not limited to, hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl groups or isomers thereof; alkanes, alkenes or alkynes, CxHy, where x=1-20, y=1-42, cyclic, branched or linear; alkyl halides, CxHyXz, where x=1-20, y=0-42, z=1-42, X=F, Cl, Br, or I; any aromatic group (e.g., phenyl, alkylphenyl, alkoxyphenyl, pyridine, naphthalene); cyclic complexes containing at least one nitrogen in the ring (e.g., pyridine, pyrrole, pyrrolidine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, etc.); hydroquinoline); any sulfur-containing group (e.g., sulfoxide, thiol, alkyl sulfide); any nitrogen-containing group (nitroxide, amine); any phosphorus-containing group (e.g., boronic acid); any organic acid (e.g., acetic acid, propanoic acid); and ester or amide derivatives thereof; any amino acid with alpha, beta, gamma and larger derivatives (e.g., glycine, cysteine, proline, glutamic acid, arginine, serine, histidine, 5-ammonium valerate); any silicon-containing group (e.g., siloxane); and any alkoxy or -OCxHy group, where x=0-20 and y=1-42.

[0174] Also, in some embodiments, the bulky organic cations may passivate grain boundaries and surface defects in the perovskite material. FIG. 7 shows an example of a perovskite material layer 3000. 1-butylammonium 3020 forms a hydrophobic layer that may repel water and other polar species and prevent such species from reaching the surface of the perovskite material. As shown in FIG. 7, the "tails" of the bulky organic cations may not be chemically bonded (e.g., covalently or ionically bonded) to the surface or grain boundaries 3015 of the perovskite material layer 3000. For example, the tails of 1-butylammonium are butyl groups and the tails of benzylammonium are benzyl groups.

[0175] The tails of the bulky organic cations may assume other arrangements with respect to the surface or grain boundaries of the perovskite material. In general, the cationic "heads" of the bulky organic cations do not diffuse more than 50 nanometers across the surface or grain boundaries of the perovskite material. The tails weakly interact with the perovskite material and are oriented away from the perovskite material grain surfaces. The tails may exhibit intermolecular interactions (e.g., dipole-dipole or hydrogen bonds) with the perovskite material grain surfaces, resulting in a configuration in which the tails are oriented toward the perovskite material grain surfaces. In some embodiments, the tails of some bulky organic cations present in the perovskite material may not interact with the surface or grain boundaries of the perovskite material, and the tails of other bulky organic cations in the perovskite material may interact with the surface or grain boundaries of the perovskite material. The tails have heteroatoms or anions (i.e., zwitterions) with at least one electron lone pair, which may covalently interact (i.e., coordinate covalent bonds) with the perovskite material grain surface via metal atoms (e.g., Pb, Sn, Ge, In, Bi, Cu, Ag, Au) present in the perovskite material. The tails also have cationic species, such as diammonium butane, as described herein, which may be incorporated into the perovskite material by substituting on at least two "C" cationic sites (e.g., formamidinium). The tails with cationic species may also bridge two layers of the 2D perovskite material, be tilted across the grain surface of the perovskite material, or be oriented away from the grain surface of the perovskite material in a manner similar to that described for the non-ionic tails. In another embodiment, bulky organic cations with sufficiently large tails, such as imidazolium cations, may not be diffused into the perovskite material but simply reside on the perovskite surface or grain boundaries.

[0176] Also, in other embodiments, bulky organic cations with tail groups of varying length or size may be applied to the perovskite to passivate grain boundaries and surface defects in the perovskite material. FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a perovskite material layer 4000. A combination of 1-butylammonium 4020, 1-nonylammonium 4021, 1-heptylammonium 4022, and 1-hexylammonium 4023 passivates both the surface and grain boundaries 4015 of the bulk perovskite material 4010. In certain embodiments, mixtures of any of the previously identified alkylammonium compounds may be applied to the perovskite materials described herein. FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a perovskite material layer 4000. A combination of 1-butylammonium 4020, 1-nonylammonium 4021, 1-heptylammonium 4022, and 1-hexylammonium 4023 passivates both the surface and grain boundaries 4015 of the bulk perovskite material 4010. In certain embodiments, any mixture of the alkylammonium compounds identified above may be applied to the perovskite materials described herein. In some embodiments, the bulky organic cations may have a benzyl group. FIG. 8A shows an example embodiment of a perovskite material layer 4500. Various bulky organic cations with benzyl groups passivate both the surface and grain boundaries 4515 of the bulk perovskite material 4510.

[0177] As mentioned above, the addition of a 1-butylammonium surface coating to a perovskite material has been shown to increase the high temperature durability of the perovskite in a humid environment. Figure 9 shows a comparison of images of perovskite materials with and without a 1-butylammonium ("BAI") surface coating over a 48 day period. Both perovskite materials have the same composition and were exposed to a temperature environment of 85°C and a relative humidity of 55% for 48 days. As can be seen from the pictures, the perovskite material without the 1-butylammonium surface coating is significantly lighter in color after one day of exposure to the environment, indicating significant degradation of the perovskite material. The perovskite material with the 1-butylammonium surface coating gradually lightens in color over the 48 days, with some dark areas remaining after 48 days. This indicates that the perovskite material with the 1-butylammonium surface coating is more robust during long-term exposure to a high temperature environment than the perovskite material without the 1-butylammonium surface coating.

[0178] FIG. 10 shows a comparison of images of perovskite materials with and without 1-butylammonium ("BAI") surface coating over a period of 7 days. Both perovskite materials have the same composition and were exposed to a temperature environment of 85° C. at 0% relative humidity for 7 days. As can be seen from the pictures, the perovskite material without the 1-butylammonium surface coating faded significantly after 1 day of exposure to the environment, indicating significant degradation of the perovskite material. The perovskite material with the 1-butylammonium surface coating shows almost no color change even after 7 days. This indicates that the perovskite material with the 1-butylammonium surface coating was not completely destroyed during the long-term exposure to the high temperature and humidity environment.

[0179] In another embodiment, perylene n-butylamine-imide may be applied to the surface of the perovskite material, as previously described for 1-butylammonium. Figures 11A-D show various perylene monoimides and diimides that may be applied to the surface of the perovskite material according to the present disclosure. Figure 12 shows an embodiment of a perovskite material 2500 to which alkylammonium cations have been added for surface passivation. In the embodiment shown, the surface of a formaminium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite material 2510 is shown to have a surface perylene n-butylamine-imide 2520. Similar to the 1-butylammonium shown in Figure 6, the carbon "tail" of the perylene n-butylamine-imide ion may affect protective properties on the surface of the perovskite by effectively distancing other molecules from the surface. In particular, the perylene n-butylamine-imide "tails" have hydrophobic properties, which prevent water molecules from contacting the surface of the perovskite, protecting the surface of the perovskite material 2510 from moisture in the environment. The perylene n-butylamine-imide cations may also act to passivate the surface and any grain boundaries or defects with the perovskite material 2510. By acting to passivate portions of the perovskite material 2510, the perylene n-butylamine-imide may improve charge transfer to and from the perovskite material 2510, improving the electrical properties of the photoactive layer.

[0180] Below, we describe a method for depositing 1-butylammonium prior to annealing the perovskite material.

[0181] First, a lead halide precursor ink is formed. A quantity of lead halide may be collected in a clean, dry container in a controlled atmosphere environment (e.g., a controlled atmosphere box with glove-containing portholes allows manipulation of the material in an air-free environment). Suitable lead halides include, but are not limited to, lead (II) iodide, lead (II) bromide, lead (II) chloride, and lead (II) fluoride. The lead halide may have a single species of lead halide or may include a mixture of lead halides in precise ratios. In certain embodiments, the lead halide mixture may have any binary, ternary, or quaternary ratio of 0.001 to 100 mole % of iodide, bromide, chloride, or fluoride. In some embodiments, the lead halide mixture may have about a 10:90 mol:mol ratio of lead (II) chloride and lead (II) iodide. In another embodiment, the lead halide mixture may have lead(II) chloride and lead(II) iodide in a ratio of about 5:95, about 7.5:92.5, or about 15:85 mol:mol.

[0182] Alternatively, other lead salt precursors may be used in conjunction with or in place of the lead halide salts to form the precursor ink. Suitable precursor salts may have lead(II) or lead(IV) in any combination with the following anions: nitrate, nitrite, carboxylate, acetate, acetonylacetonate, formate, oxalate, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, phosphate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, tetra(perfluorophenyl)borate, hydride, oxide, peroxide, hydroxide, nitride, arsenate, arsenite, perchlorate, carbonate, bicarbonate, chromate, dichromate, iodate, bromate, chlorate, chlorite, hypochlorite, hypobromite, cyanide, cyanate, isocyanate, fulminate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, azide, tetracarbonylcobaltate, carbamoyldicyanomethanide, dicyanonitrosomethanide, dicyanamide, tricyanomethanide, amide, and permanganate.

[0183] The precursor ink may further contain, as a salt of the above anion, a salt of lead (II) or lead (IV) in a molar ratio of 0 to 100% for the following metal ions: Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Zr.

[0184] A solvent may then be added to dissolve the lead solids and form the lead halide precursor ink. Suitable solvents include, but are not limited to, dry N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the lead solids are dissolved in dry dimethylformamide (DMF). The lead solids may be dissolved at a temperature of about 20 to about 150° C. In one embodiment, the lead solids dissolve at about 85° C. The lead solids are allowed to dissolve as long as necessary to form a solution, which may be done for up to about 72 hours. The resulting solution forms the base of the lead halide precursor ink. In some embodiments, the lead halide precursor ink may have a lead halide concentration of about 0.001 M to about 10 M. In some embodiments, the lead halide precursor ink has a lead halide concentration of about 1 M.

[0185] If necessary, certain additives may be added to the lead halide precursor ink to affect the crystallinity and stability of the final perovskite. In an embodiment, the lead halide precursor ink may further comprise an amino acid (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid, histidine, glycine, lysine), an amino acid hydrogen halide (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride), an IFL surface modification (SAM) agent (e.g., as described hereinabove), or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, formamidinium chloride may be added to the lead halide precursor ink. In other embodiments, halides of any of the cations described hereinabove may be used. In an embodiment, an additive may be added to the lead halide precursor ink, for example, a combination of formamidinium chloride and 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride.

[0186] The lead halide precursor ink may be doped with additives including formamidinium chloride and / or 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride at various concentrations depending on the desired properties of the resulting perovskite material. In one embodiment, the additive may be added at a concentration of about 1 nM to about 1 M. In another embodiment, the additive may be added at a concentration of about 1 μM to about 1 M. In another embodiment, the additive may be added at a concentration of about 1 μM to about 1 mM.

[0187] In an embodiment, a Group 1 metal halide solution is formed and added to the lead halide precursor ink. A quantity of Group 1 metal halide is collected in a clean, dry container under controlled atmosphere environment. Suitable Group 1 metal halides include, but are not limited to, cesium iodide, cesium bromide, cesium chloride, cesium fluoride, rubidium iodide, rubidium bromide, rubidium chloride, rubidium fluoride, lithium iodide, lithium bromide, lithium chloride, lithium fluoride, sodium iodide, sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium fluoride, potassium iodide, potassium bromide, potassium chloride, potassium fluoride. The Group 1 metal halide may have a single species of Group 1 metal halide or may have a mixture of Group 1 metal halides in the correct ratio. In an embodiment, the Group 1 metal halide may have cesium iodide. In another embodiment, the Group 1 metal halide may include rubidium iodide. In another embodiment, the Group 1 metal halide may include sodium iodide. In another embodiment, the Group 1 metal halide may include potassium iodide.

[0188] Alternatively, other Group 1 metal salt precursors may be used along with or in place of the Group 1 metal halide salt to form the Group 1 metal salt solution. Suitable precursor Group 1 metal salts may have any combination of Group 1 metals and the following anions: nitrate, nitrite, carboxylate, acetate, formate, oxalate, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, phosphate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, tetra(perfluorophenyl)borate, hydride, oxide, peroxide, hydroxide, nitride, arsenate, arsenite, perchlorate, carbonate, bicarbonate, chromate, iodate, bromate, chlorate, chlorite, hypochlorite, hypobromite, cyanide, cyanate, isocyanate, fulminate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, azide, tetracarbonylcobaltate, carbamoyldicyanomethanide, dicyanonitrosomethanide, dicyanonemethanide, tricyanomethanide, amide, and permanganate.

[0189] A solvent may then be added to the vessel to dissolve the Group 1 metal halide solids and form a Group 1 metal halide solution. Suitable solvents include, but are not limited to, dry N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide (DMF), dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the lead solids are dissolved in dry dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The Group 1 metal halide solids may be dissolved at a temperature of about 20 to about 150° C. In an embodiment, the Group 1 metal halide solids are dissolved at room temperature (i.e., about 25° C.). The Group 1 metal halide solids may be dissolved for up to about 72 hours, if necessary to form a solution. The resulting solution forms a Group 1 metal halide solution. In some embodiments, the Group 1 metal halide solution may have a Group 1 metal halide concentration between about 0.001 M and about 10 M. In some embodiments, the Group 1 metal halide solution has a Group 1 metal halide concentration of about 1 M. In some aspects, the Group 1 metal halide solution may further comprise an amino acid (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid, histidine, glycine, lysine), an amino acid hydrohalide (e.g., 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride), an IFL surface modification (SAM) agent (e.g., those described hereinabove), or a combination thereof.

[0190] The lead halide solution and the group 1 metal halide solution are then mixed to form a thin film precursor ink. The lead halide solution and the group 1 metal halide solution may be mixed in a ratio such that the resulting thin film precursor ink has a molar concentration of the group 1 metal halide between 0% and 25% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of the group 1 metal halide that is 1% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of the group 1 metal halide that is 5% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of the group 1 metal halide that is 10% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of the group 1 metal halide that is 15% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of the group 1 metal halide that is 20% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In certain embodiments, the thin film precursor ink may have a molar concentration of Group 1 metal halide that is 25% of the molar concentration of the lead halide. In some embodiments, the lead halide solution and the Group 1 metal halide solution may be agitated during or after mixing.

[0191] In an embodiment, water may be added to the lead halide precursor ink if necessary. For illustrative purposes and without limiting the disclosure to any particular theory or mechanism, the presence of water affects perovskite thin film crystal growth. Under normal circumstances, water may be absorbed as vapor from the air. However, at certain concentrations, the crystallinity of the perovskite PV can be controlled by adding water directly to the lead halide precursor ink. Suitable water includes distilled water, deionized water, or any other water source that is substantially free of contaminants (including minerals). Based on optical IV scans, it has been observed that the light-to-electrical power conversion efficiency of the perovskite PV is nearly tripled with the addition of water compared to a completely dry device.

[0192] Water may be added to the lead halide precursor ink in various concentrations depending on the desired properties of the resulting perovskite material. In one embodiment, water may be added at a concentration of about 1 nL / mL to about 1 mL / mL. In another embodiment, water may be added at a concentration of about 1 μL / mL to about 0.1 mL / mL. In another embodiment, water may be added at a concentration of about 1 μL / mL to about 20 μL / mL.

[0193] The lead halide precursor ink or thin film precursor ink may then be deposited on a desired substrate. Suitable substrate layers may include any substrate layer known prior to this disclosure. As previously described, the lead halide precursor ink or thin film precursor ink may be deposited by various means including, but not limited to, drop casting, spin casting, slot die printing, screen printing, or inkjet printing. In certain embodiments, the lead halide precursor ink or thin film precursor ink may be spin coated onto the substrate at a speed of about 500 rpm to about 10,000 rpm for a period of about 5 seconds to about 600 seconds. In one embodiment, the lead halide precursor ink or thin film precursor ink may be spin coated onto the substrate at about 3000 rpm for about 30 seconds. In an embodiment, multiple subsequent depositions of the precursor ink may be performed to form thin film layers. The lead halide precursor ink or thin film precursor ink may be deposited onto the substrate at an ambient atmosphere ranging from about 0% relative humidity to about 50% relative humidity. The lead halide precursor ink or thin film precursor ink may then be dried in a substantially water-free atmosphere, ie, an atmosphere having a relative humidity of less than 30%, to form a thin film.

[0194] After deposition of the lead halide precursor or thin film precursor, a salt solution of the bulky organic cations mentioned above (e.g., benzylammonium, phenylethylammonium, ethylammonium, propylammonium, n-butylammonium; butane-1,4-diammonium; 1-pentylammonium; 1-hexylammonium; poly(vinylammonium); phenylethylammonium; 3-phenyl-1-propylammonium; 4-phenyl-1-butylammonium; 1,3-dimethylbutylammonium; 3,3-dimethylbutylammonium; 1-heptylammonium; 1-octylammonium; 1-nonylammonium; 1-decylammonium; 1-icosanylammonium; or any other bulky cation described herein or shown in Figures 17-28) may be placed on the thin film to effect deposition of the lead salt precursor and second salt precursor. Bulky organic salts may include halides, nitrates, nitrites, carboxylates, acetates, acetonylacetonates, formates, oxalates, sulfates, sulfites, thiosulfates, phosphates, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, tetra(perfluorophenyl)borate, hydrides, oxides, peroxides, hydroxides, nitrides, arsenides, arsenates, perchlorates, carbonates, bicarbonates, chromates, dichromates, iodates, bromates, chlorates, chlorites, hypochlorites, hypobromites, cyanides, cyanates, isocyanates, fulminates, thiocyanates, isothiocyanates, azides, tetracarbonylcobaltates, carbamoyldicyanonemethanide, dicyanonitrosomethanide, dicyanamide, tricyanomethanide, amides, and / or permanganates of any of the aforementioned cations.The bulky organic cation salt solution may be formed by dissolving the bulky organic cation salt in a solvent such as alcohol, dry N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide (DMF), dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation salt may be dissolved in isopropyl alcohol. In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation salt solution may have a concentration of the bulky organic cation salt from 0.0001M to 1.0M. In another embodiment, the bulky organic cation salt solution may have a concentration of the bulky organic cation salt from 0.01M to 0.1M. In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation salt solution may have a bulky organic cation salt concentration of 0.02-0.05M. In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation salt solution may have a bulky organic cation salt concentration of about 0.05M. The bulky organic cation salt solution may be deposited on the perovskite material precursor thin film by any method described herein for solution deposition. These methods may include spray coating, drop casting, spin casting, slot die printing, screen printing, gravure printing, or inkjet printing. In an embodiment, the bulky organic cation salt may be 1-butylammonium iodide. In another embodiment, the bulky organic cation salt may be benzylammonium iodide. In yet another embodiment, the bulky organic cation salt may be phenylethylammonium iodide.

[0195] The thin film may then be thermally annealed at a temperature of about 20°C to about 300°C for up to about 24 hours. In some embodiments, the thin film may be thermally annealed at a temperature of about 50°C for about 10 minutes. The perovskite material active layer may then be completed by a conversion process. In the conversion process, the precursor film is immersed or rinsed with a solution containing a solvent or mixture of solvents (e.g., DMF, isopropanol, methanol, ethanol, butanol, chloroform chlorobenzene, dimethylsulfoxide, water) and a salt (e.g., methylammonium iodide, formamidinium iodide, guanidinium iodide, 1,2,2-triaminovinylammonium iodide, 5-aminovaleric acid hydrochloride) at a concentration of 0.001M to 10M. Also, in some embodiments, the thin film may be thermally post-annealed in the same manner as in the first line of this paragraph.

[0196] In some embodiments, after the thin film is deposited and annealed, a second salt precursor (e.g., formamidinium iodide, formamidinium thiocyanate, or guanidinium thiocyanate) may be deposited on the lead salt thin film. Here, the thin film may have a temperature approximately equal to ambient temperature or a controlled temperature between 0°C and 500°C. The second salt precursor may be deposited at ambient temperature or at an elevated temperature of about 25°C to 125°C. The second salt precursor may be deposited by various methods known in the art. These methods include, but are not limited to, spin coating, slot die printing, inkjet printing, gravure printing, screen printing, sputtering, PE-CVD, thermal evaporation, or spray coating. In some embodiments, multiple subsequent depositions of the second salt solution may be performed to form a thin film layer. In some embodiments, the second salt precursor may be a solution including one or more solvents. For example, the second salt precursor may comprise one or more of dry N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dialkylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, tert-butylpyridine, pyridine, alkylpyridine, pyrrolidine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, and combinations thereof.

[0197] In some embodiments, any bulky organic cation salt described herein may be combined with the second salt solution prior to deposition of the second salt solution. In some embodiments, a bulky organic cation salt solution may be prepared as described above and mixed with the second salt solution prior to deposition of the second salt solution. For example, the bulky organic cation salt solution may have a concentration of bulky organic cation salt between 0.0001M and 1.0M. In other embodiments, the bulky organic cation salt solution may have a concentration of bulky organic cation salt between 0.01M and 0.1M. In some embodiments, the bulky organic cation salt solution may have a concentration of bulky organic cation salt between 0.02M and 0.05M. In certain embodiments, the bulky organic cation salt solution may have a concentration of bulky organic cation salt about 0.05M. In other embodiments, the bulky organic cation salt solution may be deposited on a lead halide thin film formed after deposition of a lead halide precursor ink or thin film precursor ink. In another embodiment, a bulky organic cation salt solution may be deposited onto the perovskite precursor thin film after deposition of the second salt solution.

[0198] Finally, the substrate with the perovskite material precursor thin film may be annealed. By annealing the substrate, the lead salt precursor and the second salt precursor may be converted to a perovskite material (e.g., FAPbI3, GAPb(SCN)3, FASnI3) with a surface passivation layer of bulky organic cations. The annealing process may be carried out in various atmospheres at ambient pressure (e.g., about 1 atmosphere (760 Torr), depending on altitude and atmospheric conditions), or at atmospheric or subambient pressure (e.g., 1 mTorr to 500 mTorr). The annealing atmosphere may be ambient air, a controlled humidity environment (e.g., 0 to 100 g of HO / m of gas). 3), pure argon, pure nitrogen, pure oxygen, pure hydrogen, pure helium, pure neon, pure krypton, pure CO2, or any combination of the aforementioned gases. The controlled humidity environment may include an environment in which the absolute humidity or % relative humidity is held at a fixed value, or an environment in which the absolute humidity or % relative humidity varies according to a predetermined set point or function. In certain embodiments, the annealing process may be performed in a controlled humidity environment having a relative humidity of greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 50%. In other embodiments, the annealing process may be performed in a controlled humidity environment having a relative humidity of greater than or equal to 0 g H2O / m 3 More than 20g H2O / m 3 It may be performed in a controlled humidity environment containing the following gases: In one embodiment, the annealing process may be performed at a temperature between 50° C. and 300° C.

[0199] For example, in certain embodiments, FAPbI3 perovskite materials may be formed by the following process: First, a lead(II) halide precursor, comprising PbI2 to PbCl2 in an approximately 90:10 molar ratio dissolved in anhydrous DMF, is deposited on a substrate by spin coating, blade coating, or slot-die printing. The resulting solution is then cooled to room temperature in a substantially water-free atmosphere, i.e., with a relative humidity of less than 30% or H2O / m 3The lead halide precursor ink is dried for about 1 hour (±15 minutes) in an atmosphere with a viscosity of less than 17 g to form a thin film. The thin film may then be thermally annealed for about 10 minutes at a temperature of about 50° C. (±10° C.). In other embodiments, the lead halide precursor may be deposited by inkjet printing, gravure printing, screen printing, sputtering, PE-CVD, atomic layer deposition, thermal evaporation, or spray coating. A 1-butylammonium salt solution having a concentration of 0.05 M in isopropyl alcohol may then be deposited on the lead halide thin film. A formamidinium iodide precursor having a concentration of 15-100 mg / mL of formamidinium iodide dissolved in anhydrous isopropyl alcohol may then be deposited on the lead halide thin film by spin coating or blade coating. In other embodiments, the formamidinium iodide precursor may be deposited by inkjet printing, gravure printing, screen printing, slot die printing, sputtering, PE-CVD, atomic layer deposition, thermal evaporation, or spray coating. Next, the specimen was placed in a relative humidity of about 25% (about 4–7 g of HO / m 3 gas), and the substrate is annealed between about 100-200°C to form a formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite material having a surface layer of 1-butylammonium. In another embodiment, the 1-butylammonium salt solution may be deposited on the thin film formed after deposition of the formamidinium iodide precursor. In another embodiment, the 1-butylammonium salt solution may be combined with the lead halide precursor ink prior to deposition of the lead halide precursor ink. In yet another embodiment, the 1-butylammonium salt solution may be combined with the formamidinium iodide precursor prior to deposition of the formamidinium iodide precursor. In yet another embodiment, the 1-butylammonium salt solution may be deposited on the thin film after deposition of the formamidinium iodide precursor and prior to annealing the thin film and substrate. In yet another embodiment, the 1-butylammonium salt solution may be deposited on the thin film after annealing the thin film and substrate.

[0200] In another embodiment, lead (II) iodide solution, cesium iodide solution, methylammonium iodide (MA) salt solution, and 1-butylammonium salt solution are used to prepare Cs i A perovskite material may be obtained having a general formula of MAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is 1-butylammonium. As another example, lead(II) iodide solution, rubidium iodide solution, formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution, and 1-butylammonium salt solution may be used to prepare Rb i A perovskite material having the general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a 1-butylammonium layer, may be obtained. As another example, lead(II) iodide solution, cesium iodide solution, formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution, and 1-butylammonium salt solution may be used to prepare Cs i A perovskite material may be obtained having the general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a 1-butylammonium layer. As another example, a lead(II) iodide solution, a potassium iodide solution, a formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution, and a 1-butylammonium salt solution may be used to prepare a perovskite material having a general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a 1-butylammonium salt solution. i A perovskite material may be obtained having the general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a 1-butylammonium layer. As another example, a lead(II) iodide solution, a sodium iodide solution, a formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution, and a 1-butylammonium salt solution may be used to prepare a perovskite material having a general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a 1-butylammonium salt solution. i A perovskite material may be obtained having the general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a 1-butylammonium layer. As another example, lead(II) iodide-chloride(II) mixture, cesium iodide solution, formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution, and 1-butylammonium salt solution may be used to produce Cs i FAPbI 3-y Cl yA perovskite material may be obtained having the general formula: where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, y is a number between 0 and 3, and the surface layer is a 1-butylammonium layer.

[0201] In another embodiment, the FAPbI3 perovskite material may be formed by the following method: First, a lead halide precursor ink of about a 90:10 molar ratio of PbI2 to PbCl2 dissolved in anhydrous DMF may be deposited on a substrate by spin coating, blade coating, or slot die printing. The lead halide precursor ink may be deposited in a substantially water-free atmosphere, i.e., a relative humidity of less than 30%, or less than 17 g H2O / m 3 The thin film may be dried at room temperature for about 1 hour (±15 minutes) to form a thin film. The thin film may then be thermally annealed at a temperature of about 50° C. (±10° C.) for about 10 minutes. In other embodiments, the lead halide precursor may be deposited by inkjet printing, gravure printing, screen printing, sputtering, PE-CVD, atomic layer deposition, thermal evaporation, or spray coating. A formamidinium iodide precursor having a concentration of 15-60 mg / mL of formamidinium iodide dissolved in anhydrous isopropyl alcohol may then be deposited on the lead halide thin film by spin coating or blade coating. In other embodiments, the formamidinium iodide precursor may be deposited by inkjet printing, gravure printing, screen printing, slot die printing, sputtering, PE-CVD, atomic layer deposition, thermal evaporation, or spray coating. After depositing the lead halide precursor and the formamidinium iodide precursor, a benzylammonium salt solution having a concentration of 0.04 M in isopropyl alcohol may be deposited on the perovskite material precursor thin film. The substrate is then heated to about 25% relative humidity (about 4-7 g HO / m 3gas) and annealed at between about 100-200°C to form a formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite material with a surface layer of benzyl ammonium. In certain embodiments, the benzyl ammonium salt solution may be deposited on the lead halide thin film prior to deposition of the formamidinium iodide precursor. In another embodiment, the benzyl ammonium salt solution may be combined with the lead halide precursor ink prior to deposition of the lead halide precursor ink. In yet another embodiment, the benzyl ammonium salt solution may be combined with the formamidinium iodide precursor prior to deposition of the formamidinium iodide precursor. In some embodiments, the resulting perovskite material may have a cubic crystal structure in the bulk material away from the surface. The presence of bulky organic cations near the surface of the perovskite material may result in a non-cubic structure near the surface of the perovskite material.

[0202] In another embodiment, lead (II) iodide solution, cesium iodide solution, methylammonium iodide (MA) salt solution, and 1-butylammonium salt solution are used to produce Cs by the process described above. i A perovskite material having a general formula of MAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a benzylammonium layer, may be obtained. As another example, lead(II) iodide solution, rubidium iodide solution, formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution, and benzylammonium salt solution may be used to obtain Rb i A perovskite material having a general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a benzylammonium layer, may be obtained. As another example, lead(II) iodide solution, cesium iodide solution, formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution, and benzylammonium salt solution may be used to produce Cs by the above process. iA perovskite material having the general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a benzylammonium layer, may be obtained by the process described above using a lead(II) iodide solution, a potassium iodide solution, a formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution, and a benzylammonium salt solution. i A perovskite material having a general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a benzylammonium layer, may be obtained. As another example, Na iodide can be obtained by the above process using a lead(II) iodide solution, a sodium iodide solution, a formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution, and a benzylammonium salt solution. i A perovskite material having a general formula of FAPbI3, where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, and the surface layer is a benzylammonium layer, may be obtained. As another example, Cs can be prepared by the above process using a lead(II) iodide-lead(II) chloride mixture, a cesium iodide solution, a formamidinium iodide (FA) salt solution, and a benzylammonium salt solution. i FAPbI 3-y Cl y A perovskite material may be obtained having the formula: where i is equal to a number between 0 and 1, y is a number between 0 and 3, and the surface layer is a benzylammonium layer.

[0203] A method for producing a perovskite material using benzylammonium is described below. First, a lead iodide precursor ink is prepared by dissolving PbI2, PbCl2, and cesium iodide (CsI) in a mixture of DMF and DMSO solvents. To prepare the lead iodide precursor, a 1.5 M CsI / DMSO solution is prepared by dissolving CsI in DMSO. In a specific embodiment, the CsI / DMSO solution may be prepared by stirring CsI in DMSO at a ratio of 1.5 mmol CsI / 1.0 mL anhydrous DMSO for 1 hour to 2.5 hours at room temperature. The aforementioned CsI solution is then added to a solution of PbI2, PbCl2, and anhydrous DMF solvent to obtain a 1.28 M PbI / DMSO ink. 2+A solution is formed. The ratio of Cs to Pb is 1:10 and the ratio of I to Cl is 9:1. In one embodiment, 1.28M Pb 2+ The solution may be prepared by adding the CsI solution to a vessel containing 1.26 mmol of PbI2, 0.14 mmol of PbCl2, and 1.0 mL of anhydrous DMF solvent for each 93.8 μL of CsI solution. 2+ The solution is mixed at a temperature between 50° C. and 100° C. for 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours before cooling to form a lead iodide precursor ink. 2+ The solution may be stirred at 85° C. for 2 hours and then cooled by stirring at room temperature for 1 hour. In an embodiment, the lead iodide precursor ink may be filtered prior to deposition of the lead iodide precursor ink. In a particular embodiment, a 0.2 μm filter may be used to filter the lead iodide precursor ink.

[0204] Formamidinium iodide (FAI) and benzylammonium iodide (BzAI) solutions are prepared by dissolving FAI and BzAI salts in anhydrous isopropanol (IPA) to form 0.2 M FAI and 0.05 M BzAI solutions, respectively. In certain embodiments, both the FAI and BzAI solutions may be kept at 75° C. during the following coating process.

[0205] The lead iodide precursor ink is then deposited on a substrate and subsequently annealed to form a lead iodide film. In a particular embodiment, the lead iodide precursor ink held at 45° C. may be blade coated onto a substrate coated with a nickel oxide (NiO) thin film layer and subsequently annealed at 50° C. for 10 minutes to form a lead iodide film.

[0206] The lead iodide film is then first primed with one coat of BzAI solution, followed by three coats of FAI solution to form a perovskite material layer. Following deposition of each coat of BzAI and FAI solutions, the coatings are dried and the next coating is deposited. In certain embodiments, both the BzAI and FAI solutions may be held at 45° C. during deposition of each respective coating. After the third FAI coating is deposited, the substrate and coatings may be annealed to form the perovskite material layer. In certain embodiments, after the third FAI is deposited, the substrate is immediately heated to 157° C. for 5 minutes to anneal the perovskite material layer.

[0207] The aforementioned method may have several advantages. For example, deposition of a BzAI solution onto the lead iodide film prior to deposition of the FAI solution may provide an intermediate template for the growth of a 3D FAPbI3 perovskite material by formation of a 2D perovskite material. The BzAI may react with the lead iodide thin film to form an intermediate 2D perovskite material phase. Reaction with FAI after deposition of the FAI solution may result in the formation of BzAI in the 2D phase. + The cation is FA +cations to form a 3D FAPbI3 framework. BzAI may also passivate crystal defects in the 3D FAPbI3 perovskite material. The photoluminescence intensity of the FAPbI3 thin film formed by the above process is brighter (higher) than that of the FAPbI3 thin film formed by the process without BzAI. FIG. 31 shows optical (absorbance) and photoluminescence images of both a perovskite material photovoltaic device 3105 formed without the addition of BzAI and a perovskite material photovoltaic device 3110 formed with the above BzAI. FIG. 31 shows that the optical image of the perovskite material photovoltaic device 3110 is darker, suggesting a higher light absorbance, and that the photoluminescence image of the perovskite material photovoltaic device 3110 is brighter than the perovskite material photovoltaic device 3105. It has also been observed that power output is greater from perovskite material photovoltaic devices incorporating BzAI. Figure 32 shows power output curve 3205 corresponding to a photovoltaic device without BzAI, such as photovoltaic device 3105, and power output curve 3210 corresponding to a photovoltaic device with BzAI, such as photovoltaic device 3110 described herein. The power output measurements shown in Figure 32 are measured at 100 mW / cm for 180 seconds, interspersed with 30 seconds of dark state measurements to demonstrate steady state characteristics. 2 As can be seen in Figure 32, the photovoltaic device incorporating BzAI during fabrication has a significantly higher power output than the photovoltaic device without BzAI (15.0 mW / cm) measured at the maximum power point under AM1.5G illumination. 2 , 770mV, and 19.5mA / cm 2 ), compared to the power per unit area (16.0 mW / cm 2 ), voltage (785mV), and current per unit area (20.3mA / cm 2) is larger. Figure 33 shows current-voltage (IV) scans 3320 of a perovskite material photovoltaic device fabricated without BzAI, labelled as the sample "5r" line, and a perovskite material photovoltaic device fabricated with BzAI, labelled as the sample "10r" line. As can be seen from Figure 33, the perovskite material photovoltaic device fabricated with BzAI produces a larger current, n, over a range of bias voltages than the perovskite material photovoltaic device fabricated without BzAI. Additionally, Figure 34 shows box plots of the open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) for six perovskite material photovoltaic devices fabricated without BzAI (sample 5, r = reverse scan, f = forward scan, and s = steady state measurement) and six perovskite material photovoltaic devices fabricated with BzAI (sample 10). Figure 35 shows the external quantum efficiency (EQE) for six perovskite material photovoltaic devices fabricated without BzAI (plot 3505) and six perovskite material photovoltaic devices fabricated with BzAI (plot 3510). Each EQE curve in Figure 35 is integrated and expressed in mA / cm 2The Jsc in units is estimated. It has been shown that perovskite material devices fabricated with BzAI exhibit a higher Jsc (area under the EQE curve) than perovskite material devices fabricated without BzAI. Finally, FIG. 36 shows an admittance spectroscopy plot 3605 of a perovskite material photovoltaic device fabricated without BzAI and an admittance spectroscopy plot 3610 of a perovskite material photovoltaic device fabricated with BzAI. The admittance spectroscopy plot 3610 shows the suppressed ion migration of the sample device with benzylammonium compared to the admittance spectroscopy plot 3605 of the sample device without benzylammonium. Excessive ion migration is known to have a detrimental effect on the performance and durability of perovskite material devices, suggesting that the inclusion of benzylammonium in perovskite material photovoltaic devices may improve device performance and durability.

[0208] (Diammonium butane cation-reinforced perovskite) The incorporation of 1,4-diammonium butane, or other polyammonium organic compounds described below, into the crystal structure of a perovskite material may improve the properties of the material. In some embodiments, the addition of 1,4-diammonium butane to FAPbI3 perovskite, as described below, may provide a perovskite material with advantageous properties. In some embodiments, 1,4-diammonium butane may be introduced into the perovskite material using 1,4-diammonium butane salt in place of a bulky organic cation salt in the processes described above, and the addition of 1,4-diammonium butane salt (or other organic polyammonium salts described herein) may occur at any stage of the perovskite manufacturing process where the addition of a bulky organic cation salt occurs. The inclusion of an organic cation such as 1,4-diammonium butane into the crystal structure of a perovskite material results in a general formula for the perovskite material that deviates from the "ideal" stoichiometry of the perovskite material disclosed herein. For example, by including such organic cations, the perovskite material may have a stoichiometric or superstoichiometric general formula represented by the general formula FAPbI3. In this case, the general formula of the perovskite material is x M y X z where x, y, and z are real numbers.

[0209] In some embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt solution may be added to the lead halide precursor ink solution prior to deposition. In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt may be added to the lead halide precursor ink solution at a concentration between 0.001 mol% and 50 mol%. In some embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt may be added to the lead halide precursor ink solution at a concentration between 0.1 mol% and 20 mol%. In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt may be added to the lead halide precursor ink solution at a concentration between 1 mol% and 10 mol%.

[0210] In another embodiment, 1,4-diammonium butane salt may be added to the formamidinium iodide salt solution prior to contacting the formamidinium salt solution with the lead halide precursor thin film, as described above. In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt may be added to the formamidinium iodide salt solution at a concentration of 0.001 mol% to 50 mol%. In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt may be added to the formamidinium iodide salt solution at a concentration of 0.1 mol% to 20 mol%. In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt may be added to the formamidinium iodide salt solution at a concentration of 1 mol% to 10 mol%.

[0211] In other embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt precursor solution may be deposited on a lead halide thin film formed after deposition of a lead halide precursor ink, or on a perovskite precursor thin film after deposition of a formamidinium salt solution. In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt precursor solution may have a concentration of 0.001 mol% to 50 mol%. In some embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt precursor solution may have a concentration of 0.1 mol% to 20 mol%. In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane salt precursor solution may have a concentration of 1 mol% to 10 mol%.

[0212] An exemplary method for depositing a perovskite material with 1,4-diammonium butane includes depositing a lead salt precursor on a substrate to form a lead salt thin film, and depositing an organic cation salt precursor with a first organic cation salt on the lead salt thin film to form a perovskite precursor thin film. The lead salt precursor or the organic cation salt precursor may include 1,4-diammonium butane salt, or the 1,4-diammonium butane salt precursor may be deposited on the lead salt thin film or the perovskite precursor thin film. Finally, the substrate and the perovskite precursor thin film may be annealed to form a perovskite material with 1,4-diammonium butane. The lead salt precursor and the organic cation salt precursor may include any of the solutions described herein that are used to form a perovskite thin film.

[0213] 1,4-diammonium butane has ammonium groups with approximately the same length between them as occurs between formamidinium cations in the crystal lattice of formamidinium lead iodide perovskite materials. Thus, 1,4-diammonium butane may replace two formamidinium ions during the formation of FAPbI3 materials. In another embodiment, other alkyl polyammonium salts may be added to the lead halide precursor ink during the formation of the perovskite materials. For example, 1,8 diammonium octane, bis(4-aminobutyl)amine, and tris(4-aminobutyl)amine may be added. Polyammonium polycations with 1,4-diammonium butane may also provide the same advantages as the bulky organic cations described above, by mechanisms similar to those described above for the bulky organic cations.

[0214] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the effect of adding 1,4-diammonium butane salt during the process of making a perovskite material on the resulting perovskite 7000. As shown in FIG. 13, 1,4-diammonium butane cation 7020 may replace two formamidinium cations 7010 in the perovskite material crystal lattice. In FAPbI3 perovskite, the spacing between the formamidinium cations is about 6.35 Å. The length of the 1,4-diammonium butane cation is about 6.28 Å, with a difference of only 0.07 Å. Thus, the 1,4-diammonium butane cation may be substituted into the perovskite crystal lattice without significantly changing the properties or structure of the perovskite crystal lattice. In some embodiments, the addition of 1,4-diammonium butane cation to the perovskite material may enhance the properties and stability of the perovskite material. The 1,4-diammonium butane cation acts as a rigid structure within the perovskite material, increasing its structural and chemical durability. For example, in certain embodiments, the perovskite material doped with the 1,4-diammonium butane cation may exhibit superior dry thermal stability compared to a perovskite material not doped with the 1,4-diammonium butane cation. The perovskite material doped with the 1,4-diammonium butane cation may also exhibit a blue shift in the emission spectrum of the perovskite material. In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane cation may be added to the formamidinium salt solution at a concentration of 0-20 mol%. In other embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane cation may be added to the formamidinium salt solution at a concentration of 1-5 mol%. In certain embodiments, the 1,4-diammonium butane cation was added to the formamidinium salt solution at a concentration of 5 mol%.

[0215] Experimental evidence is presented that the addition of 1,4-diammoniumbutane up to 20% to a perovskite material does not significantly shift the lattice parameters. Figure 14 shows the X-ray diffraction peaks (XRD) of perovskite with 0 mol%, 5 mol%, 10 mol% and 20 mol% 1,4-diammoniumbutane ("DABI"). At each concentration, the main peak occurs at the same point, suggesting that the lattice parameters of the perovskite material do not change significantly with the addition of 1,4-diammoniumbutane at concentrations between 0 mol% and 20 mol%. The addition of 1,4-diammoniumbutane produces small intensity diffractions at 2θ positions below 13° with Cu-Kα radiation, representing a small amount of 2D or layered perovskite phase.

[0216] FIG. 15 shows images of 0 mol%, 1 mol%, 2.5 mol% and 5 mol% perovskite samples exposed to a temperature of 85° C. for 7 days at 0% relative humidity. The perovskite material with 0 mol% DABI exhibited a significantly lighter color after 1 day and a more noticeable yellow color after 7 days. This indicates that the perovskite material with 0 mol% DABI was significantly degraded after 1 day of exposure to the test conditions. The perovskite material samples with 1 mol%, 2.5 mol% and 5 mol% all remained dark after 7 days, suggesting that the addition of even a small amount of 1 mol% DABI significantly increases the so-called "dry heat" stability of the perovskite material.

[0217] The addition of 1,4-diammonium butane to the perovskite material may also result in a slight blue shift in the photoluminescence observed from the perovskite material when compared to a perovskite material that does not contain 1,4-diammonium butane. This blue shift is due to the passivation of trap states within the perovskite material caused by the addition of 1,4-diammonium butane. This blue shift indicates that the addition of 1,4-diammonium butane to the perovskite material reduces the defect density in the crystal lattice of the perovskite material without causing any change in the crystal structure of the perovskite material. For example, the blue shift observed in FAPbI3 perovskite material doped with 20 mol% 1,4-diammoniumbutane compared to FAPbI3 perovskite material without 1,4-diammoniumbutane has been observed to change by 0.014 eV, from 1.538 eV without 1,4-diammoniumbutane to 1.552 eV with 20 mol% 1,4-diammoniumbutane.

[0218] In another embodiment, other ammonium complexes may be added during the formation of the perovskite material. For example, FIG. 16 shows three ammonium compounds, 1,8-diammonium octane, bis(4-aminobutyl)-ammonium, and tris(4-aminobutyl)-ammonium. These may be added to the perovskite material in the same manner as described above for the 1,4-diammonium butane cation. 1,8-diammonium octane may occupy two formamidinium cations ("A sites") of the FAPbI3 perovskite material crystal lattice when introduced during the formation of the perovskite material. Bis(4-aminobutyl)-ammonium may occupy three A sites of the FAPbI3 perovskite material crystal lattice when introduced during the formation of the perovskite material. Tris(4-aminobutyl)-ammonium may occupy four A sites of the FAPbI3 perovskite material crystal lattice when introduced during the formation of the perovskite material. 16A-16C show stylized illustrations of the introduction of the three ammonium compounds shown in FIG. 16 into the FAPbI3 perovskite material crystal lattice. FIG. 16A shows a stylized illustration of the introduction of 1,8-diammonium octane into the FAPbI3 perovskite material crystal lattice 7100. As shown in FIG. 16A, the 1,8-diammonium octane cation 7120 may replace two formamidinium cations 7110 in the perovskite material crystal lattice. FIG. 16B shows a stylized illustration of the introduction of bis(4-aminobutyl)-ammonium into the FAPbI3 perovskite material crystal lattice 7200. As shown in FIG. 16B, the bis(4-aminobutyl)-ammonium cation 7220 may replace three formamidinium cations 7210 in the perovskite material crystal lattice. Figure 16C is a stylized illustration of the introduction of tris(4-aminobutyl)-ammonium into the FAPbI3 perovskite material crystal lattice 7300. As shown in Figure 16c, tris(4-aminobutyl)-ammonium cations 7320 may replace four formamidinium cations 7310 in the perovskite material crystal lattice.In other embodiments, alkyl diammonium complexes having carbon chains of between 2 and 20 carbon atoms may be added to the perovskite material, in some embodiments, a combination of ammonium complexes may be added to the perovskite material.

[0219] Thus, the present invention is well adapted to attain the objects and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The specific embodiments described above are illustrative only, and the invention may be modified and embodied in different equivalent manners that will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Moreover, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design described, except as set forth in the appended claims. Thus, it is apparent that the specific exemplary embodiments disclosed may be altered or modified, and all such variations are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention. In particular, any range of values ​​disclosed herein (such as "about a to about b," or equivalently "about a to b," or equivalently "about a to b") is to be understood as referring to a power set (a set of all subsets) of the respective range of values, with all ranges encompassed within the broader range of values ​​being described. Additionally, the terms in the claims have their plain and ordinary meanings unless expressly and unambiguously defined otherwise by the patentee.

Claims

1. A perovskite material comprising: C x M y X z a 3D perovskite crystal lattice having the general formula: bulky organic cations near the surfaces or grain boundaries of the perovskite crystal lattice; having the bulky organic cation has 1,4-diammoniumbutane, bis(4-aminobutyl)ammonium, or tris(4-aminobutyl)ammonium; where x, y, and z are real numbers except for 0. C has one or more cations selected from the group consisting of Group 1 metals, Group 2 metals, methylammonium, formamidinium, guanidinium, and ethenetetramine; M comprises one or more metals each selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Fe, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Sn, Ge, Ga, Pb, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Ti, Zn, Cd, Hg, Zr, and combinations thereof; X has one or more anions each selected from the group consisting of a halide, a pseudohalide, a chalcogenide, and combinations thereof; 1. A perovskite material, wherein at least one bulky organic cation is substituted for at least two C cations in the perovskite crystal lattice.

2. 2. The perovskite material of claim 1 , wherein at least one tail group of the bulky organic cation is not chemically connected to the surface or grain boundaries of the perovskite material.

3. 2. The perovskite material of claim 1 , wherein the bulky organic cations are located less than 50 nm within the perovskite material crystal lattice from the surface or grain boundary of the perovskite material crystal lattice.

4. 2. The perovskite material of claim 1, wherein the perovskite material crystal lattice has a cubic crystal structure.

5. C is formamidinium, M is Pb; 2. The perovskite material of claim 1, wherein X is iodide.

6. The perovskite material of claim 5, wherein the perovskite material has a cubic crystal structure.

7. 1. A method of depositing a perovskite material comprising the steps of: depositing a lead salt precursor on a substrate to form a lead salt thin film; depositing a bulky organic cation solution onto the lead salt thin film; depositing a second salt precursor on the lead salt thin film to form a perovskite precursor thin film, the second salt precursor having formamidinium iodide, formamidinium thiocyanate, or guanidinium thiocyanate; annealing the substrate to form a perovskite material; The method comprising:

8. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bulky organic cation solution has a bulky organic cation selected from the group consisting of n-butylammonium, benzylammonium, butane-1,4-diammonium, pentylammonium, hexylammonium, poly(vinylammonium), phenylethylammonium, 3-phenyl-1-propylammonium, 4-phenyl-1-butylammonium, 1,3-dimethylbutylammonium, 3,3-dimethylbutylammonium, 1-octylammonium, ammonium functionalized perylene, and combinations thereof.

9. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bulky organic cation solution comprises 1-butylammonium.

10. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bulky organic cation solution comprises benzylammonium.

11. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bulky organic cation solution has a bulky organic cation concentration between 0.01 and 0.1M.

12. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bulky organic cation solution has a bulky organic cation concentration between 0.03 and 0.05M.

13. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the lead salt precursor and the second salt precursor are deposited by spin coating, slot-die printing, blade coating, sputtering, PE-CVD, thermal evaporation, or spray coating.

14. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the lead salt precursor comprises one or more lead salts selected from the group consisting of lead (II) iodide, lead (II) thiocyanate, lead (II) chloride, lead (II) bromide, and combinations thereof.

15. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the lead salt precursor comprises lead(II) iodide.

16. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second salt precursor comprises formamidinium iodide.

17. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the lead salt precursor has one or more additives selected from the group consisting of amino acids, 5-aminovaleric acid hydroiodide, 1,8-diiodooctane, 1,8-dithiooctane, formamidinium halides, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methylammonium halides, water, and combinations thereof.

18. The lead salt precursor was a 90:10 molar ratio of PbI dissolved in anhydrous dimethylformamide. 2 :PbCl 2 8. The method of claim 7, having the following structure:

19. The annealing step may be performed in ambient air, a controlled humidity environment, pure argon, pure nitrogen, pure oxygen, pure hydrogen, pure helium, pure neon, pure krypton, or pure CO. 2 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is carried out in an atmosphere selected from the group consisting of:

20. The method of claim 7, wherein the annealing step is carried out at a temperature of 50° C. or more and 300° C. or less.

21. The step of annealing in a controlled humidity environment is carried out at 0 g H 2 O / m 3 Air, 20g or less H 2 O / m 3 20. The method of claim 19, which is carried out at absolute humidity of air.

22. The step of annealing in a controlled humidity environment may be performed using about 4 to 7 g of H 2 O / m 3 20. The method of claim 19, which is carried out at an absolute humidity of air.

23. 1. A method for depositing a perovskite material comprising the steps of: depositing a lead salt precursor on a substrate to form a lead salt thin film, the lead salt precursor comprising one or more additives selected from the group consisting of amino acids, 5-aminovaleric acid hydroiodide, 1-8-diiodooctane, 1-8-dithiooctane, formamidinium halides, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methylammonium halides, water, and combinations thereof; depositing a bulky organic cation solution onto the lead salt thin film; depositing a second salt precursor onto the lead salt thin film to form a perovskite precursor thin film; annealing the substrate to form a perovskite material; The method comprising:

24. 1. A method for depositing a perovskite material comprising the steps of: Depositing a lead salt precursor on a substrate to form a lead salt thin film, the lead salt precursor being a 90:10 molar ratio of PbI dissolved in anhydrous DMF. 2 :PbCl 2 and depositing a bulky organic cation solution onto the lead salt thin film; depositing a second salt precursor onto the lead salt thin film to form a perovskite precursor thin film; annealing the substrate to form a perovskite material; The method comprising:

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