Molecular Interlayers in Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSC) are promising third-generation solar cells. They exhibit good power conversion efficiencies and in principle they can be fabricated with lower energy consumption than many more established technologies. To improve the efficiency and long-term stability of PSC, organic molecules are frequently used as “interlayers.” Interlayers are thin layers or monolayers of organic molecules that modify a specific interface in the solar cell. Here, the latest progress in the use of interlayers to optimize the performance of PSC is reviewed. Where appropriate interesting examples from the field of organic photovoltaics (OPV) are also presented as there are many similarities in the types of interlayers that are used in PSC and OPV. The review is organized into three parts. The first part focuses on why organic molecule interlayers improve the performance of the solar cells. The second section discusses commonly used molecular interlayers. In the last part, different approaches to make thin and uniform interlayers are discussed.