Isomer‐Induced Steric Effects on Coordination Site Modification for Interface Passivation in Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a leading photovoltaic technology, thanks to their remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) and cost‐effectiveness. Despite achieving PCEs over 26%, the interface between the perovskite layer and the electron transport layer continues to be a significant barrier to achieving even higher PCEs and ensuring long‐term stability. This study presents a molecular engineering strategy through stereoisomeric modulation of thiourea derivatives, comparing N , N ′‐diphenylthiourea (DPT) with its structural isomer 1,1‐DPT as interfacial passivators. The distinct spatial configurations of these isomers fundamentally govern their defect‐passivation capabilities. The 1,1‐DPT isomer, featuring optimized bidentate coordination geometry, demonstrates superior binding affinity with undercoordinated Pb 2+ defects through dual SPb and NPb interactions. Both device testing and density functional theory analyses confirm that these stronger bonding interactions lead to a reduction in defect densities. Benefitting from the exceptional passivation properties of 1,1‐DPT, the device achieved an impressive efficiency of 25.86% coupled with superior operational stability. This work establishes a new paradigm for precision molecular design in PSC engineering, demonstrating that strategic manipulation of isomer‐specific adsorption configurations can synergistically address both structural and electronic defects at critical interfaces.

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Publication Details

Journal
Solar RRL
Published
2026-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202500921
Primary Topic
Perovskite Materials and Applications
Type
article
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article

Isomer‐Induced Steric Effects on Coordination Site Modification for Interface Passivation in Perovskite Solar Cells

Yiheng Shen, Fancheng Kong, Ning Zhou, Philip C. Y. Chow et al.
Solar RRL
Perovskite Materials and Applications
article

Isomer‐Induced Steric Effects on Coordination Site Modification for Interface Passivation in Perovskite Solar Cells

Yiheng Shen, Fancheng Kong, Ning Zhou, Philip C. Y. Chow, Hin‐Lap Yip
article en

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a leading photovoltaic technology, thanks to their remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) and cost‐effectiveness. Despite achieving PCEs over 26%, the interface between the perovskite layer and the electron transport layer continues to be a significant barrier to achieving even higher PCEs and ensuring long‐term stability. This study presents a molecular engineering strategy through stereoisomeric modulation of thiourea derivatives, comparing N , N ′‐diphenylthiourea (DPT) with its structural isomer 1,1‐DPT as interfacial passivators. The distinct spatial configurations of these isomers fundamentally govern their defect‐passivation capabilities. The 1,1‐DPT isomer, featuring optimized bidentate coordination geometry, demonstrates superior binding affinity with undercoordinated Pb 2+ defects through dual SPb and NPb interactions. Both device testing and density functional theory analyses confirm that these stronger bonding interactions lead to a reduction in defect densities. Benefitting from the exceptional passivation properties of 1,1‐DPT, the device achieved an impressive efficiency of 25.86% coupled with superior operational stability. This work establishes a new paradigm for precision molecular design in PSC engineering, demonstrating that strategic manipulation of isomer‐specific adsorption configurations can synergistically address both structural and electronic defects at critical interfaces.

Solar RRLVol. 10(1)
Shanghai University (CN), Shanghai University of Engineering Science (CN), City University of Hong Kong (HK), University of Hong Kong (HK)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 92%
Perovskite Materials and Applications
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Isomer‐Induced Steric Effects on Coordination Site Modification for Interface Passivation in Perovskite Solar Cells — Yiheng Shen, Fancheng Kong, et al. · Solar RRL (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS