Heat diffusion optimization in high performance perovskite solar cells integrated with zeolite

Heat accumulation inside perovskite solar cells causes the decomposition of the perovskite layer and hole transport materials (HTMs) under working conditions, yielding a decrease in long-term stability. Here, we present a zeolite-assisted heat conduction strategy by introducing economic zeolite crystals (e.g., NaX, NaY, and ZSM-5) as a cooling filter to induce heat diffusion. The fitted thermal diffusion kinetic equation from real-time infrared thermal imaging technology reveals the zeolite skeleton assisted thermal conduction mechanism of internal lattice vibration. Additionally, the nearly twofold improved conductivity of the modified HTM film is benefited from Na+ hopping on the supercages of the zeolite, therefore, the best-performed device with a rapid heat diffusion and defect inhibition obtains a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 23.42%. Both of NaX modified sprio-OMeTAD and PTAA based devices exhibit excellent operational stability after heating 1000 h at 85 °C under N2 condition. This work demonstrates the potential application of economical porous zeolite materials in improving the thermal stability of PSCs.