α-Phase intermediate for efficient and stable narrow bandgap triple cation perovskite solar cells

Lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted intensive attention since their power conversion efficiency (PCE) increased sharply in recent years. Thereinto, triple cation perovskite (TCP) is a popular light absorption layer for PSCs due to its excellent thermal and humidity stability. However, a large amount of MA+ (≥15%) and Br- (≥15%) in TCP makes the bandgap widen drifting from the optimum value. There is some extent of a trade-off between PCE and stability for PSCs, and narrow-bandgap TCP is one of the best choices for light absorption material to achieve an optimum balance between PCE and stability. Herein, we prepared a narrow-bandgap (1.56 eV) high-quality TCP (Cs0.05FA0.86MA0.09Pb(I0.97Br0.03)3) film with an average grain size up to 1208 nm and corresponding PSC with high efficiency of 20.8%. Moreover, the intermediate process of the TCP film crystallization was carefully studied disclosing the critical α-Phase intermediate and corresponding roles of DMSO solvent and MACl additive through quasi-in-situ XRD in the film formation process, and the results may give critical clues to the fabrication of high-quality narrow-bandgap TCP based PSCs.