Oxford University Innovation Ltd

James M Ball

Henry James Snaith

Michael Lee

Edward James William Crossland

Pablo Docampo

Andrew Hey

Giles E Eperon

Victor Burlakov

Alain Goriely

The invention provides an optoelectronic device comprising a photoactive region, which photoactive region comprises: an n-type region comprising at least one n-type layer; a p-type region comprising at least one p-type layer; and, disposed between the n-type region and the p-type region: a layer of a perovskite semiconductor without open porosity. The perovskite semiconductor is generally light-absorbing. In some embodiments, disposed between the n-type region and the p-type region is: (i) a first layer which comprises a scaffold material, which is typically porous, and a perovskite semiconductor, which is typically disposed in pores of the scaffold material; and (ii) a capping layer disposed on said first layer, which capping layer is said layer of a perovskite semiconductor without open porosity, wherein the perovskite semiconductor in the capping layer is in contact with the perovskite semiconductor in the first layer. The layer of the perovskite semiconductor without open porosity (which may be said capping layer) typically forms a planar heterojunction with the n-type region or the p-type region. The invention also provides processes for producing such optoelectronic devices which typically involve solution deposition or vapour deposition of the perovskite. In one embodiment, the process is a low temperature process; for instance, the entire process may be performed at a temperature or temperatures not exceeding 150&#xb0; C.

Optoelectronic device

The present invention provides a process for producing a layer of a crystalline material comprising a perovskite or a hexahalometallate, which process comprises: (i) exposing a substrate to a vapour comprising a first precursor compound in a first chamber to produce a layer of the first precursor compound on the substrate; and (ii) exposing the layer of the first precursor compound to a vapour comprising a second precursor compound in a second chamber to produce the layer of a crystalline material, wherein the pressure in the second chamber is above high vacuum. The invention also provides a process for producing a layer of a crystalline material comprising a perovskite or a hexahalometallate, which process comprises exposing a layer of a first precursor compound on a substrate to a vapour comprising a second precursor compound in a chamber to produce the layer of a crystalline material, wherein the pressure in the chamber is greater than high vacuum and less than atmospheric pressure. The invention also provides a process for producing a semiconductor device comprising a layer of a crystalline material, which process comprises producing said layer of a crystalline material by a process as according to the invention.

Two-step deposition process

The invention relates to processes for producing semi-transparent photoactive layers, and devices comprising the same. The invention provides a process for producing a semi-transparent photoactive layer comprising: a) disposing on a substrate a composition, which composition comprises a photoactive material or one or more precursors of a photoactive material, to form a resulting layer; and b) dewetting the resulting layer to form a dewet layer of the photoactive material, wherein the dewet layer of the photoactive material is semi-transparent. The invention also provides a semi-transparent photoactive layer comprising a substrate and, disposed on the substrate, a dewet layer of a photoactive material, wherein the dewet layer of a photoactive material comprises a plurality of absorbing regions which comprise the photoactive material and a plurality of transparent regions which do not substantially comprise the photoactive material. Devices and processes for producing devices comprising the semi-transparent layer are also disclosed, as are building components and automotive components comprising the semi-transparent layer.

Photoactive layer production process

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Oxford, United Kingdom

James M Ball