A hybrid MAPbI₃/PEDOT-ZrO₂ perovskedot composite for enhanced stability and charge transport in photo-batteries

Designing flexible photo-batteries that are capable of charged directly by light is critical for improving off-grid power options. This paper presents a unique photo-battery design that uses a MAPbI₃/PEDOT as the effective light-harvesting and hole-transporting layer, and zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) as the channel for electrons and hole-blocking layer. The MAPbI₃ perovskite material absorbs sunlight and develops charge carriers, while PEDOT helps transport holes to the anode, improving charge separation and minimizing recombination losses. ZrO₂, with its strong electron mobility and great chemical stability, provides fast transport of electrons to the cathode. It also efficiently blocks holes, increasing overall charge transfer dynamics. This improved design improves photo-conversion efficiency by up to 0.51 % and has a high capacity retention rate of around 96 % after 500 cycles. This improved MAPbI₃/PEDOT/ZrO₂ photo-battery could decrease light charging time by three times, enabling adaptable, light-rechargeable batteries more practical for real-world applications.