• First demonstration of solution-phase ligand exchange (SPLE) using inorganic ligands to synthesize stable p-type PbS quantum dot inks.
• Precise control of SnI2 concentration enables tunable transition of PbS QDs from n-type to p-type conductivity.
• PbS CQD solar cells with inorganic ligand-passivated HTL achieve a PCE of 10.93%, outperforming the conventional EDT-based LbL method (9.83%).
• The improved performance is attributed to reduced interfacial defects and enhanced carrier mobility, offering a scalable route for high-performance flexible optoelectronics.