Normally, the devices had no selectivity for electrons and holes in the ETL-free PSCs. The serious carrier recombination would occur at the interface between the perovskite and the cathode. Cui
et al. modulated the semiconductor type of the film by controlling the annealing temperature. When the temperature was increased from room temperature to 150 ℃, the semiconductor was converted from p-type to n-type. The p-n junction was composed of an n-type perovskite layer and a p-type hole transport layer. And the p-n junction improved the directional transport ability and reduced the recombination probability for electrons and holes. Finally, the PCE of the ETL-free PSCs could reach 15.69% [
71]. The semiconductor type of film was closely related to the precursor composition, processing conditions, and preparation methods (such as evaporation, solution). And it could be modulated from n-type to p-type, or vice versa correspondingly. Wang
et al. found that the semiconductor type was essentially determined by the intrinsic defects in films. The composition of perovskite precursors and annealing temperature could affect the intrinsic defects. Theoretical analysis showed the relative size of formation energy for the intrinsic defects in MAPbI
3 films:
VPb2+<
VI−< Pb
i2+ <
VMA+. In the system of PbI
2-rich or MAI-deficient, there was a tendency to form
VI−, rather than Pb
i2+ or
VMA+. And the film tended to behave as the n-type semiconductor. However, in the system of MAI-rich or PbI
2-deficient, there was a tendency to form
VPb2+ rather than
VI−. And the film tended to exhibit a p-type feature [
72]. By adding antimony chloride (SbCl
3) into the precursor solution of MAPbI
3-xCl
x, Huang
et al. introduced Sb
3+ into the crystal structure of perovskite, which made the MAPb
1-ySb
yI
3-xCl
x film behave as an n-type semiconductor. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that the introduction of Sb
3+ did not change the lattice structure of MAPbI
3-xCl
x. In addition, the optical absorption spectra showed that the band gap did not change significantly. The Hall effect measurement showed that the electron concentration in MAPbI
3-xCl
x film was about 7.2 × 10
14 cm
−3 when the doping concentration was 0. But when the doping concentration was 2%, the electron concentration in MAPb
1-ySb
yI
3-xCl
x film was increased to 8.3 × 10
16 cm
−3 and the conductivity reached 2.19 × 10
−6 Ω
−1 cm
−1. In the device, perovskite layer was used as both the absorption layer and ETL. The p-n junction was constructed between the doped n-type perovskite film and p-type HTL. Accordingly, the PCE was increased from 7.71% to 12.62% [
73]. Graphite materials were abundant, cheap, environmentally friendly, and stable and they could extract holes and block electrons. Wei
et al. constructed the p-n junction between the perovskite layer and graphite electrode. By optimizing the interface contact, the PCE of the device increased from 2.60% to 11.02% [
74].
Table 3 [
50-
53,
71,
73,
75-
86] showed the architectures and the corresponding PCEs, in which perovskites were used as the ETLs.