A Comprehensive Review of Self-Assembled Monolayers as Hole-Transport Layers in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

The hole-transport layer (HTL) plays a pivotal role in engineering high-performance inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs), as it governs both hole extraction/transport dynamics and critically impacts the crystallization quality of the perovskite absorber layer in device architectures. Recent advanc...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuchen Yuan, Houlin Li, Haiqiang Luo, Yang Zhang, Xiaoli Li, Ting Jiang, Yajie Yang, Lei Liu, Baoyan Fan, Xia Hao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2577
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849327668878639104
author Yuchen Yuan
Houlin Li
Haiqiang Luo
Yang Zhang
Xiaoli Li
Ting Jiang
Yajie Yang
Lei Liu
Baoyan Fan
Xia Hao
author_facet Yuchen Yuan
Houlin Li
Haiqiang Luo
Yang Zhang
Xiaoli Li
Ting Jiang
Yajie Yang
Lei Liu
Baoyan Fan
Xia Hao
author_sort Yuchen Yuan
collection DOAJ
description The hole-transport layer (HTL) plays a pivotal role in engineering high-performance inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs), as it governs both hole extraction/transport dynamics and critically impacts the crystallization quality of the perovskite absorber layer in device architectures. Recent advancements have highlighted self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as promising candidates for next-generation HTL materials in inverted PSCs due to their intrinsic advantages over conventional counterparts. These molecularly engineered interfaces demonstrate superior characteristics including simplified purification processes, tunable molecular structures, and enhanced interfacial compatibility with device substrates. This review systematically examines the progress, existing challenges, and future prospects of SAM-based HTLs in inverted photovoltaic systems, aiming to establish a systematic framework for understanding their structure–property relationships. The review is organized into three sections: (1) fundamental architecture of inverted PSCs, (2) molecular design principles of SAMs with emphasis on head-group functionality, and (3) recent breakthroughs in SAM-engineered HTLs and their modification strategies for HTL optimization. Through critical analysis of performance benchmarks and interfacial engineering approaches, we elucidate both the technological merits and inherent limitations of SAM implementation in photovoltaic devices. Furthermore, we propose strategic directions for advancing SAM-based HTL development, focusing on molecular customization and interfacial engineering to achieve device efficiency and stability targets. This comprehensive work aims to establish a knowledge platform for accelerating the rational design of SAM-modified interfaces in next-generation optoelectronic devices.
format Article
id doaj-art-d735723fab6c4fc9bcd3d3baf7adc2f9
institution Kabale University
issn 1996-1073
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Energies
spelling doaj-art-d735723fab6c4fc9bcd3d3baf7adc2f92025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-05-011810257710.3390/en18102577A Comprehensive Review of Self-Assembled Monolayers as Hole-Transport Layers in Inverted Perovskite Solar CellsYuchen Yuan0Houlin Li1Haiqiang Luo2Yang Zhang3Xiaoli Li4Ting Jiang5Yajie Yang6Lei Liu7Baoyan Fan8Xia Hao9Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaInstitute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaInstitute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaInstitute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaInstitute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaInstitute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaInstitute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaInstitute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaCollege of Materials and New Energy, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, ChinaInstitute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaThe hole-transport layer (HTL) plays a pivotal role in engineering high-performance inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs), as it governs both hole extraction/transport dynamics and critically impacts the crystallization quality of the perovskite absorber layer in device architectures. Recent advancements have highlighted self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as promising candidates for next-generation HTL materials in inverted PSCs due to their intrinsic advantages over conventional counterparts. These molecularly engineered interfaces demonstrate superior characteristics including simplified purification processes, tunable molecular structures, and enhanced interfacial compatibility with device substrates. This review systematically examines the progress, existing challenges, and future prospects of SAM-based HTLs in inverted photovoltaic systems, aiming to establish a systematic framework for understanding their structure–property relationships. The review is organized into three sections: (1) fundamental architecture of inverted PSCs, (2) molecular design principles of SAMs with emphasis on head-group functionality, and (3) recent breakthroughs in SAM-engineered HTLs and their modification strategies for HTL optimization. Through critical analysis of performance benchmarks and interfacial engineering approaches, we elucidate both the technological merits and inherent limitations of SAM implementation in photovoltaic devices. Furthermore, we propose strategic directions for advancing SAM-based HTL development, focusing on molecular customization and interfacial engineering to achieve device efficiency and stability targets. This comprehensive work aims to establish a knowledge platform for accelerating the rational design of SAM-modified interfaces in next-generation optoelectronic devices.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2577inverted perovskite solar cellsself-assembled monolayershole-transport layercarrier transport efficiency
spellingShingle Yuchen Yuan
Houlin Li
Haiqiang Luo
Yang Zhang
Xiaoli Li
Ting Jiang
Yajie Yang
Lei Liu
Baoyan Fan
Xia Hao
A Comprehensive Review of Self-Assembled Monolayers as Hole-Transport Layers in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
Energies
inverted perovskite solar cells
self-assembled monolayers
hole-transport layer
carrier transport efficiency
title A Comprehensive Review of Self-Assembled Monolayers as Hole-Transport Layers in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
title_full A Comprehensive Review of Self-Assembled Monolayers as Hole-Transport Layers in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
title_fullStr A Comprehensive Review of Self-Assembled Monolayers as Hole-Transport Layers in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
title_full_unstemmed A Comprehensive Review of Self-Assembled Monolayers as Hole-Transport Layers in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
title_short A Comprehensive Review of Self-Assembled Monolayers as Hole-Transport Layers in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
title_sort comprehensive review of self assembled monolayers as hole transport layers in inverted perovskite solar cells
topic inverted perovskite solar cells
self-assembled monolayers
hole-transport layer
carrier transport efficiency
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2577
work_keys_str_mv AT yuchenyuan acomprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT houlinli acomprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT haiqiangluo acomprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT yangzhang acomprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT xiaolili acomprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT tingjiang acomprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT yajieyang acomprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT leiliu acomprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT baoyanfan acomprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT xiahao acomprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT yuchenyuan comprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT houlinli comprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT haiqiangluo comprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT yangzhang comprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT xiaolili comprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT tingjiang comprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT yajieyang comprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT leiliu comprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT baoyanfan comprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells
AT xiahao comprehensivereviewofselfassembledmonolayersasholetransportlayersininvertedperovskitesolarcells