Alternative electrodes for HTMs and noble-metal-free perovskite solar cells: 2D MXenes electrodes

The high cost of hole transporting materials (HTMs) and noble metal electrodes limits the application of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Carbon materials have been commonly utilized for HTMs and noble-metal-free PSCs. In this paper, a more conductive 2D MXene material (Ti(3)C(2)), showing a similar energy level to carbon materials, has been used as a back electrode in HTMs and noble-metal-free PSCs for the first time. Seamless interfacial contact between the perovskite layer and Ti(3)C(2) material was obtained using a simple hot-pressing method. After the adjustment of key parameters, the PSCs based on the Ti(3)C(2) electrode show more stability and higher power conversion efficiencies (PCE) (13.83%, 27% higher than that (10.87%) of the PSCs based on carbon electrodes) due to the higher conductivity and seamless interfacial contact of the MXene electrode. Our work proposes a promising future application for MXene and also a good electrode candidate for HTM and the noble-metal-free PSCs.