Article

Synergistic Composite Electron Transport Layer and Interfacial Engineering for High-Efficiency and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Aitizaz AliSchool of Information Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, ChinaAbu S. S. BilalDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, PakistanWaseem KhanDepartment of Metallurgical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, PakistanMursaleen ShahidDepartment of Industrial Engineering (DII), University of Trento, Povo, TN, ItalySanjeev KumarDepartment of Physics, University Institute of Sciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali, IndiaMalatesh AkkurDepartment of Physics & Electronics, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, IndiaEbenezar Jebarani M RDepartment of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, IndiaBinayak PattanayakDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, IndiaMirjalol Ismoilov Ruziboy UgliDepartment of Transport Systems, Urgench State University named after Abu Rayhan Biruni, Urgench, UzbekistanEgambergan XudaynazarovDepartment of General Science, Mamun University, Khiva, UzbekistanAkbar Ali QureshiDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

IEEE Journal of Photovoltaicsjournal2026

ABI

Abstract

The Organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved remarkable power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), yet their commercialization remains limited by interfacial recombination losses and insufficient operational stability. Here, we present a dual-interface engineering strategy that synergistically combines a Fe2O3-WO3 composite electron transport layer (ETL) with an ultrathin piperazine dihydriodide interlayer (IL) to address these challenges. The Fe2O3-WO3 composite, prepared via solution processing, integrates the stability and deep conduction band of Fe2O3 with the high electron mobility of WO3, forming uniform, transparent, and compact films that facilitate efficient electron extraction and suppressed recombination. Meanwhile, the IL at the perovskite/hole transport interface passivates surface defects, introduces interfacial dipoles for optimized energy-level alignment, and inhibits ion migration. Together, these modifications improve perovskite film morphology, reduce trap density, and enable superior charge transport. Devices incorporating composite ETL and IL achieved a champion PCE of 18.46% with a <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">VOC of 1.14 V, <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">JSC of 21.82 mA·cm−2, and <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">FF of 74.23%, outperforming single-oxide counterparts. Moreover, the dual-engineered devices exhibited enhanced stability, retaining ∼84% of their initial efficiency under prolonged operation. This work demonstrates that composite ETLs combined with molecular interfacial passivation provide a scalable pathway to efficient, stable, and reproducible PSCs.

Topics

Perovskite Materials and Applications Chemical and Physical Properties of Materials Thermal Expansion and Ionic Conductivity

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1109/jphotov.2026.3677493

Citations and references

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