Adaptive O <sub>2</sub> Activation on a Molecular Platform: Promoting Spiro‐OMeTAD Doping for High Efficiency Carbon‐Based Perovskite Solar Cells

ABSTRACT The 2,2’,7,7’‐tetrakis[N, N‐di(4‐methoxyphenyl)amino]‐9,9’‐spirobifluorene (Spiro‐OMeTAD), a widely used hole transport material in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), heavily relies on p‐doping for improving its electrical properties, which is typically achieved through ambient O 2 oxidation. Nevertheless, as a result of the inherent inertness of O 2 toward Spiro‐OMeTAD oxidation, the doping level of Spiro‐OMeTAD remains constrained. In this study, we introduce an effective approach to enhance the doping level of Spiro‐OMeTAD employing the single Ti atoms on carbon nanohorns (CNH) as a molecular platform to activate O 2 , in turn facilitating the oxidation of Spiro‐OMeTAD. The charge transfer between the Ti 1 ‐O 5 moieties and CNH, resulting from strong metal‐support interaction (SMSI), enhances O 2 chemisorption, weakens the O─O bond, and promotes O 2 dissociation, thereby effectively activating O 2 molecules for the oxidation of Spiro‐OMeTAD. Such sufficient oxidation effectively boosts the doping level of Spiro‐OMeTAD, consequently improving its electrical conductivity. Furthermore, the work function of Spiro‐OMeTAD is also well‐modulated, aligning its energy levels more effectively with the carbon electrode. This strategy significantly minimizes energy loss in charge transfer, allowing carbon‐based PSCs to attain a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.85% (certified at 22.85%). Remarkably, the device retains 96.2% of its initial value after 1000 h of continuous illumination.

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Journal
Advanced Energy Materials
Published
2026-01-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202506649
Primary Topic
Perovskite Materials and Applications
Type
article
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article

Adaptive O 2 Activation on a Molecular Platform: Promoting Spiro‐OMeTAD Doping for High Efficiency Carbon‐Based Perovskite Solar Cells

Yanying Shi, Qiuyu Liu, Y. Wang, Guanghao Meng et al.
Advanced Energy Materials
Perovskite Materials and Applications
article

Adaptive O 2 Activation on a Molecular Platform: Promoting Spiro‐OMeTAD Doping for High Efficiency Carbon‐Based Perovskite Solar Cells

Yanying Shi, Qiuyu Liu, Y. Wang, Guanghao Meng, Wei Liu, Wenrui Li, Shi Wei Wang, Jiashuo Cheng, Siao Li, Xibei Jia, Yantao Shi, Lida Liu
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT The 2,2’,7,7’‐tetrakis[N, N‐di(4‐methoxyphenyl)amino]‐9,9’‐spirobifluorene (Spiro‐OMeTAD), a widely used hole transport material in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), heavily relies on p‐doping for improving its electrical properties, which is typically achieved through ambient O 2 oxidation. Nevertheless, as a result of the inherent inertness of O 2 toward Spiro‐OMeTAD oxidation, the doping level of Spiro‐OMeTAD remains constrained. In this study, we introduce an effective approach to enhance the doping level of Spiro‐OMeTAD employing the single Ti atoms on carbon nanohorns (CNH) as a molecular platform to activate O 2 , in turn facilitating the oxidation of Spiro‐OMeTAD. The charge transfer between the Ti 1 ‐O 5 moieties and CNH, resulting from strong metal‐support interaction (SMSI), enhances O 2 chemisorption, weakens the O─O bond, and promotes O 2 dissociation, thereby effectively activating O 2 molecules for the oxidation of Spiro‐OMeTAD. Such sufficient oxidation effectively boosts the doping level of Spiro‐OMeTAD, consequently improving its electrical conductivity. Furthermore, the work function of Spiro‐OMeTAD is also well‐modulated, aligning its energy levels more effectively with the carbon electrode. This strategy significantly minimizes energy loss in charge transfer, allowing carbon‐based PSCs to attain a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.85% (certified at 22.85%). Remarkably, the device retains 96.2% of its initial value after 1000 h of continuous illumination.

Advanced Energy MaterialsVol. 16(10)
Yunnan Normal University (CN), Anhui University (CN), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HK), Dalian University of Technology (CN), Dalian University (CN), University of Hong Kong (HK)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 96%
Perovskite Materials and Applications
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