Performance-stability correlation in MAPbI<inf>3</inf> based perovskite solar cells developed using ink derived from single crystals

Perovskite precursor is obtained by exposing MAPbI3 single crystals to methylamine vapor, which slices the crystal lattice resulting in solution processable precursor. The obtained ink is spin-coated onto FTO/p-TiO2/m-TiO2 substrates, Spiro-OMeTAD is the hole transporting material and gold is the metal back contact. The n-i-p architecture solar cells are tested for their current-voltage characteristics. As-prepared PSCs exhibited either efficiencies ≥15 % or efficiencies in the range of 10–15 %. These two sets of devices are tested for ambient stability at 25 ± 5 °C and 50–60 % relative humidity for more than 35 days. We find an intriguing correlation between efficiency and stability; the higher efficiency devices degraded faster than the lower efficiency ones. This study focuses on establishing this interesting correlation between performance and stability of PSCs and discusses the possible reasons on why the most efficient cells are more vulnerable to degradation. This intriguing observation will pave way for addressing stability dynamics of PSCs.