Overcoming photovoltage deficit via phenylthiourea derivatives for efficient printed perovskite solar cells with enhanced stability

Jinlong Hu; Runxin Li; Qiongfeng Zhan; Jiajun Qin; Dadong Wen; Bing Yi; Huisheng Peng; Zhihang Tang

doi:10.1088/1674-4926/25080006

J. Semicond. > In Press

ARTICLES

Overcoming photovoltage deficit via phenylthiourea derivatives for efficient printed perovskite solar cells with enhanced stability

Jinlong Hu¹, Runxin Li¹, Qiongfeng Zhan¹, Jiajun Qin², Dadong Wen¹, Bing Yi¹, Huisheng Peng² and Zhihang Tang^1,

+ Author Affiliations

Corresponding author: Zhihang Tang, zhtang@hnie.edu.cn

DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25080006CSTR: 10.1088/1674-4926/25080006

Abstract: Although the certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of single-junction perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has achieved a high level of 27%, approaching the single-crystalline silicon solar cells, the device stability remains an urgent issue to be resolved for the commercialization. Defect passivation emerged as a viable approach to enhance the operational stability of the solar devices. Herein, phenylthiourea (PhTu) derivatives are selected as effective passivation agents to enhance the optoelectronic properties of printed methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) films. It is demonstrated that incorporating a small amount of 1-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2-thiourea (PhTu-COOH) significantly reduces the trap-state density and leads to longer carrier lifetime of the perovskite films. As a result, the inverted solar device made of PhTu-COOH-modified MAPbI₃perovskite film shows remarkably improved efficiency (from 17.29% to 20.22%) and obviously increased open-circuit voltage (V_OC) (from 1.043 to 1.143 V), as compared with the pristine device. Moreover, the PhTu-COOH-modified PSCs exhibit enhanced operational stability due to the significantly reduced trap-state density. Finally, the optimized solar module fabricated with an active area of 11.28 cm² delivers a high PCE of 17.07% with negligible V_OC loss, demonstrating the feasibility of the blade-coating method for large-area perovskite film deposition.

Key words: phenylthiourea, defect passivation, printable, high efficiency, perovskite solar cell

References

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[2]	Wang S, Ma Z R, Liu B B, et al. High-performance perovskite solar cells with large grain-size obtained by using the Lewis acid-base adduct of thiourea. Sol RRL, 2018, 2(6), 1800034 doi: 10.1002/solr.201800034
[3]	Ma Y H, Zhang S H, Yi Y W, et al. Deep level defects passivated by small molecules for the enhanced efficiency and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells. J Mater Chem C, 2022, 10(15), 5922 doi: 10.1039/D2TC00283C
[4]	Li Z H, Cao J G, Yang X J, et al. Buried interface engineering for MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells by the novel carbon nitride synergistic strategy. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2025, 17(15), 22860 doi: 10.1021/acsami.5c03011
[5]	Hu J L, Xie D M, Tang Z H, et al. Flattening of the cratered inorganic perovskite film via precursor engineering for CsPbI₂Br solar cells with 16.86% efficiency. ACS Sustainable Chem Eng, 2024, 12(35), 13392 doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c06058
[6]	Green M A, Dunlop E D, Yoshita M, et al. Solar cell efficiency tables (Version 66). Prog Photovoltaics, 2025, 33, 795 doi: 10.1002/pip.3919
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[8]	Hu, J L, Wang C, Qiu S D, et al. Spontaneously self-assembly of a 2D/3D heterostructure enhances the efficiency and stability in printed perovskite solar cells. Adv Energy Mater, 2020, 10(17), 2000173 doi: 10.1002/aenm.202000173
[9]	Chen C R, Hu J L, Xu Z H, et al. Natural methionine-passivated MAPbI₃ perovskite films for efficient and stable solar devices. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater, 2021, 4(4), 1261 doi: 10.1007/s42114-021-00238-9
[10]	Cho S P, Lee H J, Kang Y J, et al. More effective perovskite surface passivation strategy via optimized functional groups enables efficient p-i-n perovskite solar cells. Appl Surf Sci, 2022, 602, 154248 doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.154248
[11]	Lee J W, Bae S H, Hsieh Y T, et al. A bifunctional Lewis base additive for microscopic homogeneity in perovskite solar cells. Chem, 2017, 3(2), 290 doi: 10.1016/j.chempr.2017.05.020
[12]	Gao F, Chen W J, Li Y, et al. Enhancing efficiency of MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells with carbon quantum dot implanted g-C₃N₄: Controllable crystallization and surface passivation. J Alloys Compd, 2025, 1017, 179119 doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2025.179119
[13]	Lavoipierre R, Planes E, Flandin L, et al. Photovoltaic efficiency optimization of electrodeposited MAPbI₃ perovskite: impact of ammonium valeric acid iodide additive. Chem Mater, 2024, 36(21), 10680 doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.4c02217
[14]	Chen B, Rudd P N, Yang S, et al. Imperfections and their passivation in halide perovskite solar cells. Chem Soc Rev, 2019, 48(14), 3842 doi: 10.1039/C8CS00853A
[15]	Li M Y, Yue Z Y, Ye Z C, et al. Improving the efficiency and stability of MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells by dipeptide molecules. Small, 2024, 20(25), e2311400 doi: 10.1002/smll.202311400
[16]	Liu Z W, Su Z, Yu B, et al. Biomaterial improves the stability of perovskite solar cells by passivating defects and inhibiting ion migration. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2024, 16(24), 31218 doi: 10.1021/acsami.4c06285
[17]	Meng Y P, Zhang C X, Gong S B, et al. MAPbI₃ perovskite inverted solar cell with bottom interface defects passivation via 2-thiophenemethylammonium bromide. J Power Sources, 2025, 629, 236058 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.236058
[18]	Mkawi E M, Qaid S M H, Roqan I S, et al. Enhancement the performance of MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells via germanium sulfide doping. Opt Mater, 2024, 157, 116089 doi: 10.1016/j.optmat.2024.116089
[19]	Abbas M, Cai B Y, Hu, J L, et al. Improving the photovoltage of blade-coated MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells via surface and grain boundary passivation with π-conjugated phenyl boronic acids. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2021, 13(39), 46566 doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c11335
[20]	Choi M J, Lee Y S, Cho I H, et al. Functional additives for high-performance inverted planar perovskite solar cells with exceeding 20% efficiency: selective complexation of organic cations in precursors. Nano Energy, 2020, 71, 104639 doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104639
[21]	Cao C T, Tao Y L, Yang Q, et al. Bilayer interfacial engineering with PEAI/OAI for synergistic defect passivation in high-performance perovskite solar cells. J Semicond, 2025, 46(5), 052805 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/25030046
[22]	Alharbi E A, Alyamani A Y, Kubicki D J, et al. Atomic-level passivation mechanism of ammonium salts enabling highly efficient perovskite solar cells. Nat Commun, 2019, 10(1), 3008 doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10985-5
[23]	Hu J L, Xu X, Chen Y J, et al. Overcoming photovoltage deficit via natural amino acid passivation for efficient perovskite solar cells and modules. J Mater Chem A, 2021, 9(9), 5857 doi: 10.1039/D0TA12342K
[24]	Qiu S D, Xu X, Zeng L X, et al. Biopolymer passivation for high-performance perovskite solar cells by blade coating. J Energy Chem, 2021, 54, 45 doi: 10.1016/j.jechem.2020.05.040
[25]	Wang K, Zheng L Y, Zhu T, et al. High performance perovskites solar cells by hybrid perovskites co-crystallized with poly(ethylene oxide). Nano Energy, 2020, 67, 104229 doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104229
[26]	Yang S, Dai J, Yu Z H, et al. Tailoring passivation molecular structures for extremely small open-circuit voltage loss in perovskite solar cells. J Am Chem Soc, 2019, 141(14), 5781 doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b13091
[27]	Hu J L, Jiang X, Lan D H, et al. Lead carbanion anchoring for surface passivation to boost efficiency of inverted perovskite solar cells to over 25%. Chem Eng J, 2024, 499, 156037 doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.156037
[28]	Sun M N, Zhang F, Liu H L, et al. Tuning the crystal growth of perovskite thin-films by adding the 2-pyridylthiourea additive for highly efficient and stable solar cells prepared in ambient air. J Mater Chem A, 2017, 5(26), 13448 doi: 10.1039/C7TA00894E
[29]	Li Y, Duan Y W, Feng J S, et al. 25.71 %-efficiency FACsPbI₃ perovskite solar cells enabled by A thiourea-based isomer. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2024, 63(49), e202410378 doi: 10.1002/anie.202410378
[30]	Wang Z, Zeng L X, Zhang C L, et al. Rational interface design and morphology control for blade-coating efficient flexible perovskite solar cells with a record fill factor of 81%. Adv Funct Materials, 2020, 30(32), 2001240 doi: 10.1002/adfm.202001240
[31]	Li X, Sheng W P, Duan X P, et al. Defect passivation effect of chemical groups on perovskite solar cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2022, 14(30), 34161 doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c08539
[32]	Chen H, Liu T, Zhou P, et al. Efficient bifacial passivation with crosslinked thioctic acid for high-performance methylammonium lead iodide perovskite solar cells. Adv Mater, 2020, 32(6), e1905661 doi: 10.1002/adma.201905661
[33]	Liu X X, Cheng Y H, Liu C, et al. 20.7% highly reproducible inverted planar perovskite solar cells with enhanced fill factor and eliminated hysteresis. Energy Environ Sci, 2019, 12(5), 1622 doi: 10.1039/C9EE00872A
[34]	Liu Z Z, Cao F R, Wang M, et al. Observing defect passivation of the grain boundary with 2-aminoterephthalic acid for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2020, 59(10), 4161 doi: 10.1002/anie.201915422
[35]	Li X, Chen C C, Cai M L, et al. Efficient passivation of hybrid perovskite solar cells using organic dyes with −COOH functional group. Adv Energy Mater, 2018, 8(20), 1800715 doi: 10.1002/aenm.201800715
[36]	Xie J S, Yan K Y, Zhu H Y, et al. Identifying the functional groups effect on passivating perovskite solar cells. Sci Bull, 2020, 65(20), 1726 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.05.031

Fig. 1. (Color online) (a) Illustration of the fabrication process of perovskite films. The SEM images of perovskite films processed without (b) and with 2 mg∙mL⁻¹ PhTu (c), and PhTu-COOH (d) modification. The scale bars are 1 μm.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 2. (Color online) (a) XRD, (b) UV−vis spectra, (c) steady-state, and (d) time-resolved PL spectroscopies of the pristine and PhTu derivatives modified perovskite films.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 3. (Color online) High-resolution Pb 4f (a) and I 3d (b) XPS spectra of the pristine and PhTu derivatives modified perovskite films.

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Fig. 4. (Color online) (a) The adsorption energy column chart of PhTu and PhTu-COOH, with the inset showing the corresponding molecular structures. (b) Charge density distribution of the MAPbI₃ (001) surface. The electronic configurations of MAPbI₃ (001) surfaces passivated by the PhTu (c) and PhTu-COOH (d) respectively.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 5. (Color online) (a) Typical configuration of inverted planar-architecture device. (b) J−V curves of the optimized pristine and modified devices. (c) Statistics of V_OC distribution of 30 solar devices. (d) Statistic PCE distribution of the pristine and PhTu-COOH-modified collected from 30 devices each. (e) The EQE curves and the integrated current densities of the pristine and PhTu-COOH-modified devices. (f) The steady-state PCE of the champion device.

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Fig. 6. (Color online) (a) Schematic diagram of the design structure of a solar module with six cells connected in series. (b) Digital photograph of a typical blade-coated solar module. (c) J−V curves of the best solar module with active area of 11.28 cm².

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Fig. 7. (Color online) Shelf stability of the pristine and PhTu-COOH-modified devices stored in (a) N₂-filled glove box and (b) ambient air under room temperature (24 ± 3 °C). The relative humidity (RH) of ambient condition is 50% ± 10%. (c) Light-soaking tests of the devices with continuous 1 sun illumination in a N₂-filled glovebox. All the solar cells are measured without encapsulation.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Table 1. Photovoltaic parameters of the planar p−i−n structure perovskite solar cells without and with 2 mg∙mL⁻¹ PhTu derivatives modified.

Device	Scan direction	J_SC (mA∙cm⁻²)	V_OC (V)	FF (%)	PCE (%)
Pristine	Forward Reverse	21.67 21.87	1.045 1.043	71.9 75.8	16.28 17.29
PhTu	Forward Reverse	22.31 22.18	1.087 1.089	78.4 78.1	19.01 18.86 19.71 20.22
PhTu-COOH	Forward Reverse	22.12 22.17	1.134 1.143	78.6 79.8	19.01 18.86 19.71 20.22

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[1]	Zhu L F, Xu Y Z, Zhang P P, et al. Investigation on the role of Lewis bases in the ripening process of perovskite films for highly efficient perovskite solar cells. J Mater Chem A, 2017, 5(39), 20874 doi: 10.1039/C7TA05378A
[2]	Wang S, Ma Z R, Liu B B, et al. High-performance perovskite solar cells with large grain-size obtained by using the Lewis acid-base adduct of thiourea. Sol RRL, 2018, 2(6), 1800034 doi: 10.1002/solr.201800034
[3]	Ma Y H, Zhang S H, Yi Y W, et al. Deep level defects passivated by small molecules for the enhanced efficiency and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells. J Mater Chem C, 2022, 10(15), 5922 doi: 10.1039/D2TC00283C
[4]	Li Z H, Cao J G, Yang X J, et al. Buried interface engineering for MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells by the novel carbon nitride synergistic strategy. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2025, 17(15), 22860 doi: 10.1021/acsami.5c03011
[5]	Hu J L, Xie D M, Tang Z H, et al. Flattening of the cratered inorganic perovskite film via precursor engineering for CsPbI₂Br solar cells with 16.86% efficiency. ACS Sustainable Chem Eng, 2024, 12(35), 13392 doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c06058
[6]	Green M A, Dunlop E D, Yoshita M, et al. Solar cell efficiency tables (Version 66). Prog Photovoltaics, 2025, 33, 795 doi: 10.1002/pip.3919
[7]	Guo F, Qiu S D, Hu J L, et al. A generalized crystallization protocol for scalable deposition of high-quality perovskite thin films for photovoltaic applications. Adv Sci, 2019, 6(17), 1901067 doi: 10.1002/advs.201901067
[8]	Hu, J L, Wang C, Qiu S D, et al. Spontaneously self-assembly of a 2D/3D heterostructure enhances the efficiency and stability in printed perovskite solar cells. Adv Energy Mater, 2020, 10(17), 2000173 doi: 10.1002/aenm.202000173
[9]	Chen C R, Hu J L, Xu Z H, et al. Natural methionine-passivated MAPbI₃ perovskite films for efficient and stable solar devices. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater, 2021, 4(4), 1261 doi: 10.1007/s42114-021-00238-9
[10]	Cho S P, Lee H J, Kang Y J, et al. More effective perovskite surface passivation strategy via optimized functional groups enables efficient p-i-n perovskite solar cells. Appl Surf Sci, 2022, 602, 154248 doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.154248
[11]	Lee J W, Bae S H, Hsieh Y T, et al. A bifunctional Lewis base additive for microscopic homogeneity in perovskite solar cells. Chem, 2017, 3(2), 290 doi: 10.1016/j.chempr.2017.05.020
[12]	Gao F, Chen W J, Li Y, et al. Enhancing efficiency of MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells with carbon quantum dot implanted g-C₃N₄: Controllable crystallization and surface passivation. J Alloys Compd, 2025, 1017, 179119 doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2025.179119
[13]	Lavoipierre R, Planes E, Flandin L, et al. Photovoltaic efficiency optimization of electrodeposited MAPbI₃ perovskite: impact of ammonium valeric acid iodide additive. Chem Mater, 2024, 36(21), 10680 doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.4c02217
[14]	Chen B, Rudd P N, Yang S, et al. Imperfections and their passivation in halide perovskite solar cells. Chem Soc Rev, 2019, 48(14), 3842 doi: 10.1039/C8CS00853A
[15]	Li M Y, Yue Z Y, Ye Z C, et al. Improving the efficiency and stability of MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells by dipeptide molecules. Small, 2024, 20(25), e2311400 doi: 10.1002/smll.202311400
[16]	Liu Z W, Su Z, Yu B, et al. Biomaterial improves the stability of perovskite solar cells by passivating defects and inhibiting ion migration. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2024, 16(24), 31218 doi: 10.1021/acsami.4c06285
[17]	Meng Y P, Zhang C X, Gong S B, et al. MAPbI₃ perovskite inverted solar cell with bottom interface defects passivation via 2-thiophenemethylammonium bromide. J Power Sources, 2025, 629, 236058 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.236058
[18]	Mkawi E M, Qaid S M H, Roqan I S, et al. Enhancement the performance of MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells via germanium sulfide doping. Opt Mater, 2024, 157, 116089 doi: 10.1016/j.optmat.2024.116089
[19]	Abbas M, Cai B Y, Hu, J L, et al. Improving the photovoltage of blade-coated MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells via surface and grain boundary passivation with π-conjugated phenyl boronic acids. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2021, 13(39), 46566 doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c11335
[20]	Choi M J, Lee Y S, Cho I H, et al. Functional additives for high-performance inverted planar perovskite solar cells with exceeding 20% efficiency: selective complexation of organic cations in precursors. Nano Energy, 2020, 71, 104639 doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104639
[21]	Cao C T, Tao Y L, Yang Q, et al. Bilayer interfacial engineering with PEAI/OAI for synergistic defect passivation in high-performance perovskite solar cells. J Semicond, 2025, 46(5), 052805 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/25030046
[22]	Alharbi E A, Alyamani A Y, Kubicki D J, et al. Atomic-level passivation mechanism of ammonium salts enabling highly efficient perovskite solar cells. Nat Commun, 2019, 10(1), 3008 doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10985-5
[23]	Hu J L, Xu X, Chen Y J, et al. Overcoming photovoltage deficit via natural amino acid passivation for efficient perovskite solar cells and modules. J Mater Chem A, 2021, 9(9), 5857 doi: 10.1039/D0TA12342K
[24]	Qiu S D, Xu X, Zeng L X, et al. Biopolymer passivation for high-performance perovskite solar cells by blade coating. J Energy Chem, 2021, 54, 45 doi: 10.1016/j.jechem.2020.05.040
[25]	Wang K, Zheng L Y, Zhu T, et al. High performance perovskites solar cells by hybrid perovskites co-crystallized with poly(ethylene oxide). Nano Energy, 2020, 67, 104229 doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104229
[26]	Yang S, Dai J, Yu Z H, et al. Tailoring passivation molecular structures for extremely small open-circuit voltage loss in perovskite solar cells. J Am Chem Soc, 2019, 141(14), 5781 doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b13091
[27]	Hu J L, Jiang X, Lan D H, et al. Lead carbanion anchoring for surface passivation to boost efficiency of inverted perovskite solar cells to over 25%. Chem Eng J, 2024, 499, 156037 doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.156037
[28]	Sun M N, Zhang F, Liu H L, et al. Tuning the crystal growth of perovskite thin-films by adding the 2-pyridylthiourea additive for highly efficient and stable solar cells prepared in ambient air. J Mater Chem A, 2017, 5(26), 13448 doi: 10.1039/C7TA00894E
[29]	Li Y, Duan Y W, Feng J S, et al. 25.71 %-efficiency FACsPbI₃ perovskite solar cells enabled by A thiourea-based isomer. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2024, 63(49), e202410378 doi: 10.1002/anie.202410378
[30]	Wang Z, Zeng L X, Zhang C L, et al. Rational interface design and morphology control for blade-coating efficient flexible perovskite solar cells with a record fill factor of 81%. Adv Funct Materials, 2020, 30(32), 2001240 doi: 10.1002/adfm.202001240
[31]	Li X, Sheng W P, Duan X P, et al. Defect passivation effect of chemical groups on perovskite solar cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2022, 14(30), 34161 doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c08539
[32]	Chen H, Liu T, Zhou P, et al. Efficient bifacial passivation with crosslinked thioctic acid for high-performance methylammonium lead iodide perovskite solar cells. Adv Mater, 2020, 32(6), e1905661 doi: 10.1002/adma.201905661
[33]	Liu X X, Cheng Y H, Liu C, et al. 20.7% highly reproducible inverted planar perovskite solar cells with enhanced fill factor and eliminated hysteresis. Energy Environ Sci, 2019, 12(5), 1622 doi: 10.1039/C9EE00872A
[34]	Liu Z Z, Cao F R, Wang M, et al. Observing defect passivation of the grain boundary with 2-aminoterephthalic acid for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2020, 59(10), 4161 doi: 10.1002/anie.201915422
[35]	Li X, Chen C C, Cai M L, et al. Efficient passivation of hybrid perovskite solar cells using organic dyes with −COOH functional group. Adv Energy Mater, 2018, 8(20), 1800715 doi: 10.1002/aenm.201800715
[36]	Xie J S, Yan K Y, Zhu H Y, et al. Identifying the functional groups effect on passivating perovskite solar cells. Sci Bull, 2020, 65(20), 1726 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.05.031

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Received: 08 August 2025 Revised: 13 October 2025 Online: Accepted Manuscript: 23 October 2025Uncorrected proof: 27 October 2025

Article Navigation > Journal of Semiconductors > 2025 > Uncorrected proof

Jinlong Hu, Runxin Li, Qiongfeng Zhan, Jiajun Qin, Dadong Wen, Bing Yi, Huisheng Peng, Zhihang Tang. Overcoming photovoltage deficit via phenylthiourea derivatives for efficient printed perovskite solar cells with enhanced stability[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2025, In Press. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/25080006 ****J L Hu, R X Li, Q F Zhan, J J Qin, D D Wen, B Yi, H S Peng, and Z H Tang, Overcoming photovoltage deficit via phenylthiourea derivatives for efficient printed perovskite solar cells with enhanced stability[J]. J. Semicond., 2025, accepted doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/25080006

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J L Hu, R X Li, Q F Zhan, J J Qin, D D Wen, B Yi, H S Peng, and Z H Tang, Overcoming photovoltage deficit via phenylthiourea derivatives for efficient printed perovskite solar cells with enhanced stability[J]. J. Semicond., 2025, accepted doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/25080006

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Overcoming photovoltage deficit via phenylthiourea derivatives for efficient printed perovskite solar cells with enhanced stability

DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25080006

CSTR: 10.1088/1674-4926/25080006

1.
Academician Workstation for Smart Fiber Materials, Hunan Institute of Engineering, Xiangtan 411104, China
2.
State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, and Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China

More Information

Jinlong Hu received his Ph. D. degree from College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University in 2018. He then joined the Institute of New Energy Technology at Jinan University as a postdoctoral fellow. He joined Hunan Institute of Engineering as a lecturer in 2021. His research focuses on perovskite solar cells
Zhihang Tang received his doctoral degree from Donghua University, Shanghai, China, in 2009. He is currently a Professor at the School of Information Science and Engineering, Hunan Institute of Engineering, Xiangtan, China. His current research interests include artificial intelligence, machine learning, and intelligent detection
Corresponding author: zhtang@hnie.edu.cn
Received Date: 2025-08-08
Revised Date: 2025-10-13

Available Online: 2025-10-23

Abstract

Abstract

Although the certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of single-junction perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has achieved a high level of 27%, approaching the single-crystalline silicon solar cells, the device stability remains an urgent issue to be resolved for the commercialization. Defect passivation emerged as a viable approach to enhance the operational stability of the solar devices. Herein, phenylthiourea (PhTu) derivatives are selected as effective passivation agents to enhance the optoelectronic properties of printed methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) films. It is demonstrated that incorporating a small amount of 1-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2-thiourea (PhTu-COOH) significantly reduces the trap-state density and leads to longer carrier lifetime of the perovskite films. As a result, the inverted solar device made of PhTu-COOH-modified MAPbI₃perovskite film shows remarkably improved efficiency (from 17.29% to 20.22%) and obviously increased open-circuit voltage (V_OC) (from 1.043 to 1.143 V), as compared with the pristine device. Moreover, the PhTu-COOH-modified PSCs exhibit enhanced operational stability due to the significantly reduced trap-state density. Finally, the optimized solar module fabricated with an active area of 11.28 cm² delivers a high PCE of 17.07% with negligible V_OC loss, demonstrating the feasibility of the blade-coating method for large-area perovskite film deposition.
- phenylthiourea,
- defect passivation,
- printable,
- high efficiency,
- perovskite solar cell

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