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Strain analysis and engineering in halide perovskite photovoltaics

Nature Materials volume 20, pages 1337–1346 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Halide perovskites are a compelling candidate for the next generation of clean-energy-harvesting technologies owing to their low cost, facile fabrication and outstanding semiconductor properties. However, photovoltaic device efficiencies are still below practical limits and long-term stability challenges hinder their practical application. Current evidence suggests that strain in halide perovskites is a key factor in dictating device efficiency and stability. Here we outline the fundamentals of strain within halide perovskites relevant to photovoltaic applications and rationalize approaches to characterize the phenomenon. We examine recent breakthroughs in eliminating the adverse impacts of strain, enhancing both device efficiencies and operational stabilities. Finally, we discuss further challenges and outline future research directions for placing stress and strain studies at the forefront of halide perovskite research. An extensive understanding of strain in halide perovskites is needed, which would allow effective strain management and drive further enhancements in efficiencies and stabilities of perovskite photovoltaics.

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Fig. 1: Definition and measurement of strain in halide perovskites.
Fig. 2: Origins of strain in halide perovskites.
Fig. 3: Effects of strain on halide perovskites.
Fig. 4: Strain engineering in halide perovskite photovoltaics.
Fig. 5: Workflow for unlocking the potential of strain in perovskite devices.

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Acknowledgements

W.Z. acknowledges UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) New Investigator Award (2018; EP/R043272/1) and Newton Advanced Fellowship (192097) for financial support. S.D.S. acknowledges the support from the Royal Society and Tata Group (UF150033), the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (HYPERION, grant agreement no. 756962) and EPSRC under grant reference EP/R023980/1. D. Liu acknowledges China Scholarship Council (CSC, no. 201908310074) for financial support. D. Luo and Z.-H.L. acknowledge the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada. A.N.I. acknowledges a scholarship from the British Spanish Society. K.W.P.O. acknowledges funding from an EPSRC studentship. T.A.S.D. acknowledges support of a National University of Ireland (NUI) Travelling Studentship. We acknowledge M. Anaya for fruitful discussions.

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Dongtao Liu, Deying Luo, Affan N. Iqbal, Kieran W. P. Orr.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

    Dongtao Liu & Wei Zhang

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Deying Luo & Zheng-Hong Lu

  3. Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Affan N. Iqbal, Kieran W. P. Orr, Tiarnan A. S. Doherty & Samuel D. Stranks

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Affan N. Iqbal, Kieran W. P. Orr & Samuel D. Stranks

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D. Liu, D. Luo, A.N.I. and K.W.P.O. contributed equally to conceiving and writing the first draft. All authors contributed to the discussion of content and revisions of the manuscript.

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Liu, D., Luo, D., Iqbal, A.N. et al. Strain analysis and engineering in halide perovskite photovoltaics. Nat. Mater. 20, 1337–1346 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-021-01097-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-021-01097-x

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