New Publication on Robust SAM Contacts for Perovskite Solar Cells in Collaboration With Prof. Zhijun Ning's Group at ShanghaiTech University
March 27, 2026
We are pleased to announce a new collaborative publication with the group of Zhijun Ning at ShanghaiTech University on advancing robust self-assembled monolayer (SAM) contacts for perovskite solar cells.
Title: A metal-ion-linked self-assembled molecular layer as a robust hole-selective contact for perovskite solar cells
Key Highlights
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have emerged as highly effective hole-selective contacts in perovskite solar cells. However, their limited uniformity and stability, especially for large-area devices, remain critical bottlenecks.
In this work, we introduce a novel concept: metal-ion-linked self-assembled molecular layers (MiLSAM). This approach incorporates coordination-active metal ions during sequential SAM deposition, which act as crosslinking sites and form a robust, interconnected molecular network.
What does MiLSAM solve?
- Enhances film homogeneity and structural stability
- Maintains molecular stacking under thermal and light stress
- Preserves favorable energy level alignment at interfaces
- Suppresses buried interface degradation in perovskite devices
Device Performance
- 26.7% efficiency for small-area solar cells
- 25.75% efficiency for ~1 cm² devices
- >1000 hours stability under ISOS-L-3 conditions with <10% degradation
Why this matters
This work demonstrates that the organization and robustness of SAM layers are just as critical as designing new molecular structures. The MiLSAM strategy provides a scalable pathway toward high-efficiency, stable, and large-area perovskite solar cells.