A chain is as strong as its weakest link – Stability study of MAPbI3 under light and temperature

Abstract: The stability of perovskite solar cells is a key issue for industrial development. One reason for this is the volatile organic methylammonium (MA) cation, which is prone to degas under elevated temperatures from the perovskite. At the same time, small amounts of MA are used for practically all highest performing solar cells. These compositions have also shown relatively promising stabilities. This raises the question of MA stability with respect to different, application-dependent stability requirements. Interestingly, MA stability was mainly studied on thin films that differ from full devices or with architectures which are also prone to degrade. Therefore, the degradation behavior on complete MA containing devices with a relatively stable architecture is required to quantify the long-term stability of MA. This enables to determine at which timescales MA is unstable and which role it can play in future compositions. If MA is indeed unstable at much longer timescales than previously recorded, it also indicates that more severe degradation pathways are currently underappreciated. Here, “weakest link” MAPbI3 devices are used, i.e. showing promising stability: devices retained 100% of their initial efficiency over 1000?h of aging under constant illumination and maximum power point tracking at 20?°C. At elevated temperatures of 50 and 65?°C, the devices retained 100% and 90% of their initial efficiency after 500?h of illumination, respectively. Impressively, at 95?°C the MAPbI3 device retained 85% after 500?h under constant illumination of its initial efficiency, which is some of the best stability data reported to date for MA. Thus, MA-containing devices require further studying. Nevertheless to achieve the necessary industrial lifetimes of more than 25?years, the complete removal of MA is a sensible precaution to systematically avoid any long-term risk factors.