In Situ TEM Analysis of Organic-Inorganic Metal-Halide Perovskite Solar Cells under Electrical Bias.

Jeangros, Quentin; Duchamp, Martial; Werner, Jérémie; Kruth, Maximilian; Dunin-Borkowski, Rafal E; Niesen, Bjoern; Ballif, Christophe; Hessler-Wyser, Aïcha · Nano Lett · 2016

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Changes in the nanostructure of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI<sub>3</sub>) perovskite solar cells are assessed as a function of current-voltage stimulus by biasing thin samples in situ in a transmission electron microscope. Various degradation pathways are identified both in situ and ex situ, predominantly at the positively biased MAPbI<sub>3</sub> interface. Iodide migrates into the positively biased charge transport layer and also volatilizes along with organic species, which triggers the nucleation of PbI<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles and voids and hence decreases the cell performance.