Reduced-dimensional perovskite photovoltaics with homogeneous energy landscape.

Reduced-dimensional (quasi-2D) perovskite materials are widely applied for perovskite photovoltaics due to their remarkable environmental stability. However, their device performance still lags far behind traditional three dimensional perovskites, particularly high open circuit voltage (Voc) loss. Here, inhomogeneous energy landscape is pointed out to be the sole reason, which introduces extra energy loss, creates band tail states and inhibits minority carrier transport. We thus propose to form homogeneous energy landscape to overcome the problem. A synergistic approach is conceived, by taking advantage of material structure and crystallization kinetic engineering. Accordingly, with the help of density functional theory guided material design, (aminomethyl) piperidinium quasi-2D perovskites are selected. The lowest energy distribution and homogeneous energy landscape are achieved through carefully regulating their crystallization kinetics. We conclude that homogeneous energy landscape significantly reduces the Shockley-Read-Hall recombination and suppresses the quasi-Fermi level splitting, which is crucial to achieve high Voc. Quasi-2D halide perovskites are good candidates for efficient and stable solar cells but they suffer from high open-circuit voltage (Voc) deficit. Here He et al. show that homogeneous energy landscape of the charge transport levels is important to suppressing the recombination and increasing Voc.