Highly efficient and stable quasi two-dimensional perovskite solar cells via synergistic effect of dual additives

High-Quality Thiophene-Based Two-Dimensional Perovskite Films Prepared with Dual Additives and Their Application in Solar Cells

This study explores the optimization of (TMA)2MA4Pb5I16 perovskite films by regulating the film quality through the addition of MACl and MAAc additives. We found that adding MACl resulted in a film of larger grains with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.34%, while excessive MACl led to the formation of low-dimensional phases. Adding 7.5% MAAc improved the film quality with a PCE of 5.64%, although excessive MAAc induces pores and smaller grains. To address these issues, we proposed the combined use of MACl and MAAc additives, resulting in films with a larger grain size, smoother surface, and denser structure. Remarkably, the addition of MAAc + MACl achieved a champion PCE of 8.86% with good reproducibility. Mechanism studies revealed that TMA and MAAc formed a stable complex with PbI2 in solution, disrupting nucleation laws and promoting the formation of nuclei, leading to denser films with smaller grains. Additionally, the MACl treatment effectively promoted grain growth, resulting in high-quality films. This study presents novel insights into dual additive usage and their role in film crystallization, offering valuable guidance for the preparation of high-performance perovskite films.

Aqueous-phase dual-functional chiral perovskites for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) detection and antibacterial applications in Escherichia coli

Perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have attracted extensive attention for their potential applications in biology. However, only a handful of PNCs have been scrutinized in the biological domain due to issues such as instability, poor dispersion, and size inhomogeneity in polar solvents. The development of dual-functional perovskite nanomaterials with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) sensing and antibacterial capabilities is particularly intriguing. In this study, we prepared chiral quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) perovskite nanomaterials, Bio(S-PEA)2CsPb2Br7 and Bio(R-PEA)2CsPb2Br7, that were uniformly dispersed in aqueous media. The effective encapsulation of methoxypolyethylene glycol amine (mPEG-NH2) improved water stability and uniformity of particle size. Circular dichroism (CD) signals were created by the successful insertion of chiral cations. These perovskites as probes showed a rapid and sensitive fluorescence quenching response to H2S, and the effect of imaging detection was observed at the Escherichia coli (E. coli) level. As antibacterial agents, their pronounced positive charge properties facilitated membrane lysis and subsequent E. coli death, indicating a significant antibacterial effect. This work has preliminary explored the application of chiral perovskites in biology and provides insight into the development of bifunctional perovskite nanomaterials for biological applications.