Mayer Bond Order as a Metric of Complexation Effectiveness in Lead Halide Perovskite Solutions

James Stevenson, Blaire Sorenson, Varun Hari Subramaniam, James Raiford, Petr P. Khlyabich, Yueh Lin Loo, Paulette Clancy

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

89 Scopus citations

Abstract

One of the most appealing features of solar cells made from hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites is that they can be processed directly from solution, leading to low cost, energy-efficient processing. Numerous studies have shown that the composition of these solutions and the choice of solvent (or solvent blend) affects the efficiency of the resulting solar cell. Despite the importance of this correlation for performance, the choice of solvent(s) used to deposit the perovskite precursors has been largely a matter of experimental trial-and-error. In this work, we present a coherent theory explaining the molecular origin of the efficacy of solvent choice, which lends itself to the creation of a fast quantum mechanical-based screening process that facilitates the design of effective new solvents. We also provide the first theoretical confirmation of complexation of HOIP precursors in solution, including their structure and relative stability. We show that the Mayer bond order of a solvent's polar atoms predicts the solubility of the perovskite lead halide precursors in the solvent much more reliably than the relative polarity and Hansen polar solubility parameter suggested in the literature as being figures of merit.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2435-2444
Number of pages10
JournalChemistry of Materials
Volume29
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 28 2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Materials Chemistry

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