MXene‐Engineered Cs <sub>2</sub> AgBiBr <sub>6</sub> Perovskite Solar Cells: Rational Screening and Interfacial Dynamics for Lead‐Free Photovoltaics

MXenes have demonstrated exceptional performance in energy applications, yet their potential in photovoltaic systems, particularly in lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs), remains underexplored, with no strategic studies addressing how MXene composition influences critical photovoltaic performance. Here, we present the first strategic screening of M<sub>2</sub>X-type MXenes (including Hf<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>, Zr<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>, Ta<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>, Nb<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>, Mo<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>, and V<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>) for rational heterojunction design with Cs<sub>2</sub>AgBiBr<sub>6</sub>, focusing on the interplay between properties of MXenes and photovoltaic performance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that MXenes can induce substantial electronic states near the Fermi level, creating superior charge transfer paths in Cs<sub>2</sub>AgBiBr<sub>6</sub>, with V<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub> exhibiting the lowest interfacial contact barrier and the highest carrier transfer efficiency. Complementary ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations coupled with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses further demonstrate that the functional termination groups like ─F in MXenes effectively passivate Br vacancies in Cs<sub>2</sub>AgBiBr<sub>6</sub>, thereby enhancing crystallization and suppressing defect densities. Consequently, the experimental results yielded a trend in line with the calculations, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device with V<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub> represented a 36% improvement, accompanied by exceptional stability. By establishing quantitative structure-property relationships between MXenes and Cs<sub>2</sub>AgBiBr<sub>6</sub>, this work provides a universal materials selection paradigm for developing high-performance, environmentally-friendly photovoltaic technologies.

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Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2025-06-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202506567
Primary Topic
MXene and MAX Phase Materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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MXene‐Engineered Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 Perovskite Solar Cells: Rational Screening and Interfacial Dynamics for Lead‐Free Photovoltaics

Jiangang Ma, Haiyang Xu, Peng Li, Naoyuki Shibayama et al.
Advanced Science
MXene and MAX Phase Materials
article

MXene‐Engineered Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 Perovskite Solar Cells: Rational Screening and Interfacial Dynamics for Lead‐Free Photovoltaics

Jiangang Ma, Haiyang Xu, Peng Li, Naoyuki Shibayama, Ziyan Liu, Xintong Zhang, Hancheng Zhu, Lin Yang, Xiaofeng Wang, Tianfang Zheng, Yichun Liu
article en

Abstract

MXenes have demonstrated exceptional performance in energy applications, yet their potential in photovoltaic systems, particularly in lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs), remains underexplored, with no strategic studies addressing how MXene composition influences critical photovoltaic performance. Here, we present the first strategic screening of M<sub>2</sub>X-type MXenes (including Hf<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>, Zr<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>, Ta<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>, Nb<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>, Mo<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>, and V<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub>) for rational heterojunction design with Cs<sub>2</sub>AgBiBr<sub>6</sub>, focusing on the interplay between properties of MXenes and photovoltaic performance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that MXenes can induce substantial electronic states near the Fermi level, creating superior charge transfer paths in Cs<sub>2</sub>AgBiBr<sub>6</sub>, with V<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub> exhibiting the lowest interfacial contact barrier and the highest carrier transfer efficiency. Complementary ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations coupled with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses further demonstrate that the functional termination groups like ─F in MXenes effectively passivate Br vacancies in Cs<sub>2</sub>AgBiBr<sub>6</sub>, thereby enhancing crystallization and suppressing defect densities. Consequently, the experimental results yielded a trend in line with the calculations, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device with V<sub>2</sub>CT<sub>x</sub> represented a 36% improvement, accompanied by exceptional stability. By establishing quantitative structure-property relationships between MXenes and Cs<sub>2</sub>AgBiBr<sub>6</sub>, this work provides a universal materials selection paradigm for developing high-performance, environmentally-friendly photovoltaic technologies.

Advanced ScienceVol. 12(33)
Northeast Normal University (CN), Jilin University (CN), Toin University of Yokohama (JP)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, People's Government of Jilin Province, Education Department of Jilin Province, National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
Openalex Percentile: Top 89%
MXene and MAX Phase Materials
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