TiO₂ Mesocrystals Processed at Low Temperature as the Electron-Transport Material in Perovskite Solar Cells

TiO₂ is the most widely used material for preparing the electron-transporting layer (ETL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, it requires a high-temperature sintering process. Moreover, the intrinsic defects and low electron mobility of TiO₂ ETLs cause instability and hysteresis effects in PSCs. In this study, a mesoporous film composed of anatase TiO₂ mesocrystals was facilely fabricated by a low-temperature route and then used as an ETL in PSCs for the first time. A satisfactory efficiency of 20.26 % can be achieved through delicate control of the entire device fabrication procedure. The optimal device, with an area of 1 cm² , achieves an efficiency of 17.07 %. In comparison to the common TiO₂ ETLs, those composed of TiO₂ mesocrystals show the enhanced electron extraction and suppression of charge accumulation at the perovskite/ETL interface, resulting in improved photovoltaic performance and reduced hysteresis.