Modulating Hysteresis of Perovskite Solar Cells by a Poling Voltage

Perovskite solar cells have a puzzling phenomenon of current hysteresis. Here, we modulate the hysteresis by applying a poling voltage. Charge accumulations are detected in the perovskite solar cells. Two interacting capacitors are identified through dynamic voltage measurement. We elucidate that the current hysteresis originates mainly from the polarization and depolarization of electric dipoles of CH3NH3+ under an external electric field due to the intrinsic ferroelectric properties of perovskite. The polarization leads to charge accumulation at the surface of perovskite, which establishes a polarization-induced electric field. The polarization-induced electric field affects the charge transport inside the solar cells, resulting in the current hysteresis. The polarization of electric dipoles can be modified by the poling and sweeping voltage, which makes the hysteresis exhibit a history-dependent effect.