Triggering the Passivation Effect of Potassium Doping in Mixed-Cation Mixed-Halide Perovskite by Light Illumination

Potassium (K + ) doping has been recently discovered as an effective route to suppress hysteresis and improve the performance stability of perovskite solar cells. However, the mechanism of these K + doping effects is still under debate, and rationalization of the improved performance in these perovskites is needed. Herein, the photoluminescence (PL) properties and device performance of mixed-cation mixed-halide perovskite are dynamically monitored with and without K + doping under bias light illumination via a confocal fluorescence microscope, together with ultrafast transient absorption as well as time-dependent and time-resolved PL measurements. It is demonstrated that illumination is essential to trigger the passivation effect of K + by forming KBr-like compounds, leading to the elimination of interface trapping defects and suppression of mobile ion migration, thus resulting in improved power conversion efficiency and negligible current–voltage hysteresis of solar cells. This work provides novel insight into the hysteresis suppression upon K + doping and highlights the significance of light illumination when using this protocol.