Tailoring the energy manifold of quasi-two-dimensional perovskites for efficient carrier extraction

Abstract

Harvesting the excess energy from absorbed above bandgap photons is a promising approach to overcome the detailed balance limit for higher solar cell efficiencies. However, this remains very challenging for 2D layered halide perovskites as the fast excess energy loss competes effectively with charge extraction. Herein, the authors engineer the energy cascade manifold of quantum well (QW) states in quasi-2D Ruddlesden–Popper perovskites by facile tuning of the organic spacer to decelerate the energy loss. The resulting excess energy loss rate is up to two orders slower compared to 3D perovskites, thus enabling efficient carrier extraction. 2D electronic spectroscopy reveals further insights into the structural and energetic disorder of these layered systems. Importantly, a judicious choice of the organic spacer holds the key to tailoring the coherent coupling between QWs that strongly influences the competition between the energy cascade and charge extraction.