Researchers have developed a seed-assisted crystallization strategy to produce pure α-phase FAPbI3 perovskite without conventional chemical stabilizers. The resulting device reached 23.51% efficiency and retained 99% of its initial performance after 3,000 hours of unencapsulated operation.
A research group led by scientists in Saudi Arabia and Greece has developed a stabilizer-free, seed-assisted growth strategy to produce the pure α-phase of formamidinium lead iodide (α-FAPbI₃) perovskite.
FAPbI₃ is one of the leading absorber candidates for single-junction perovskite solar cells. However, it is unstable under ambient conditions, typically requiring chemical stabilizers that can widen the bandgap and limit its photovoltaic potential.
“This research presents an exciting approach to one of the biggest challenges facing FAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells: stabilizing the highly efficient α-phase without relying on compositional additives that compromise the material’s ideal bandgap,” corresponding author Essa A. Alharbi told pv magazine. “Rather than using conventional α-phase stabilizers such as cesium (Cs), rubidium (Rb), or methylammonium (MA), we introduce a seeded-growth strategy in which α-FAPbI₃ seed crystals are incorporated directly into the precursor solution to guide crystallization.”
