journal article·2026-05-29Open access

In Situ Pseudo‐Halide Diffusion Enables Buried Interface Regulation and Crystallinity Enhancement in Perovskite Solar Cells

Chao Gao, Li He, Changjiang Li, Long Fang, Wenzhong Shen

Abstract

ABSTRACT Regulating buried interfaces is pivotal for suppressing interfacial defects and facilitating crystallization toward compact, high‐quality perovskite films. Here, we propose a thermally activated lithium formate (LiHCOO) buried interface strategy that triggers in situ pseudo‐halide diffusion, thereby simultaneously reconstructing the SnO 2 /perovskite interface and regulating perovskite nucleation and growth. High‐temperature treatment transforms LiHCOO from its low‐temperature hexagonal polymorph to a metastable monoclinic phase with a more open molecular packing structure, thereby enabling deeper HCOO − diffusion into the buried perovskite. Diffused HCOO − strongly interacts with undercoordinated Pb 2+ sites, inhibiting pinhole formation, reducing trap density, compensating for halide vacancy related defects, and releasing residual tensile strain. Meanwhile, LiHCOO modification passivates the SnO 2 surface by reducing oxygen vacancies and hydroxyl defects, improving interfacial electrical properties. This enhances the built‐in potential of perovskite devices from 0.91 to 1.00 V while optimizing energy level alignment. Ultimately, the optimized perovskite solar cell achieved a champion efficiency of 25.48%, with an open‐circuit voltage of 1.213 V and a fill factor of 82.57%, while also demonstrating outstanding long‐term stability. This work reveals polymorph‐mediated pseudo‐halide diffusion as a novel approach to low‐loss and robust perovskite photovoltaics.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Perovskite Materials and Applications · TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells · Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huangshan University Huangshan P. R. China

Institute of Solar Energy, and Key Laboratory of Artificial Structures and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education) School of Physics and Astronomy Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai P. R. China

Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Physics and Chemistry of the Ministry of Education Jilin Normal University Changchun P. R. China

Renewable Energy School Inner Mongolia University of Technology Ordos P. R. China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Major State Basic Research Development Program of China

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