Improved photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells by utilizing down-conversion NaYF4:Eu3+ nanophosphors

Perovskite solar cells assembled with titanium dioxide electron transport layer exhibited brilliant photovoltaic properties due to titanium dioxide having a high electron mobility, appropriate energy level alignment and easy fabrication procedure.

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Effect of Polyethylene Glycol Incorporation in Electron Transport Layer on Photovoltaic Properties of Perovskite Solar Cells

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano10091753 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1753

Author(s):

Bo-Tau Liu ◽

Bo-Wei Guo ◽

Rathinam Balamurugan

Keyword(s):

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Polyethylene Glycol ◽

Electron Transport ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Transport Layer ◽

Electron Transport Layer ◽

Processing Temperature ◽

High Electron ◽

Photovoltaic Properties

Due to the characteristics of high electron mobility, ambient stability, proper energy level, and low processing temperature, zinc oxide (ZnO) has become a very promising electron transport material for photovoltaics. However, perovskite solar cells fabricated with ZnO reveal low efficiency because perovskite crystals may decompose thermally on the surface of ZnO as a result of proton transfer reactions. In this study, we are the first to incorporate an inexpensive, non-toxic polyethylene glycol (PEG) into ZnO and explore the passivation effect on the electron transport layer of perovskite solar cells. Suspension stability, surface roughness, electrical conductivity, crystal size, and photovoltaic properties with respect to the PEG incorporation are analyzed. The experimental results revealed that PEG incorporation effectively passivated the surface defects of ZnO, increased the electrical conductivity, and suppressed the charge recombination. The photocurrent density could increase from 15.2 to 19.2 mA/cm2, an increase of 27%.

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Improved photovoltaic performance of triple-cation mixed-halide perovskite solar cells with binary trivalent metals incorporated into the titanium dioxide electron transport layer

Journal of Materials Chemistry C ◽

10.1039/c9tc00555b ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (17) ◽

pp. 5028-5036 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

M. Thambidurai ◽

Shini Foo ◽

K. M. Muhammed Salim ◽

P. C. Harikesh ◽

Annalisa Bruno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Titanium Dioxide ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Electron Transport ◽

Energy Level ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Transport Layer ◽

Electron Transport Layer ◽

Highly Efficient ◽

Halide Perovskite

Simultaneous improvement in transparency, conductivity, and energy level alignment was attained via a highly efficient AlIn-TiO2 ETL with the unrivaled PCE of 19%.

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The Influence of the Thickness of Compact TiO2 Electron Transport Layer on the Performance of Planar CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14123295 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 3295

Author(s):

Andrzej Sławek ◽

Zbigniew Starowicz ◽

Marek Lipiński

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Electron Transport ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Precursor Solution ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Short Circuit Current Density ◽

Transport Layer ◽

Electron Transport Layer

In recent years, lead halide perovskites have attracted considerable attention from the scientific community due to their exceptional properties and fast-growing enhancement for solar energy harvesting efficiency. One of the fundamental aspects of the architecture of perovskite-based solar cells (PSCs) is the electron transport layer (ETL), which also acts as a barrier for holes. In this work, the influence of compact TiO2 ETL on the performance of planar heterojunction solar cells based on CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite was investigated. ETLs were deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates from a titanium diisopropoxide bis(acetylacetonate) precursor solution using the spin-coating method with changing precursor concentration and centrifugation speed. It was found that the thickness and continuity of ETLs, investigated between 0 and 124 nm, strongly affect the photovoltaic performance of PSCs, in particular short-circuit current density (JSC). Optical and topographic properties of the compact TiO2 layers were investigated as well.

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Low-Temperature Processed TiOx Electron Transport Layer for Efficient Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano10091676 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1676

Author(s):

Md. Shahiduzzaman ◽

Daiki Kuwahara ◽

Masahiro Nakano ◽

Makoto Karakawa ◽

Kohshin Takahashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

High Temperature ◽

Electron Transport ◽

Low Temperature ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Low Cost ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Transport Layer ◽

Electron Transport Layer ◽

Photovoltaic Properties

The most frequently used n-type electron transport layer (ETL) in high-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is based on titanium oxide (TiO2) films, involving a high-temperature sintering (>450 °C) process. In this work, a dense, uniform, and pinhole-free compact titanium dioxide (TiOx) film was prepared via a facile chemical bath deposition process at a low temperature (80 °C), and was applied as a high-quality ETL for efficient planar PSCs. We tested and compared as-deposited substrates sintered at low temperatures (< 150 °C) and high temperatures (> 450 °C), as well as their corresponding photovoltaic properties. PSCs with a high-temperature treated TiO2 compact layer (CL) exhibited power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) as high as 15.50%, which was close to those of PSCs with low-temperature treated TiOx (14.51%). This indicates that low-temperature treated TiOx can be a potential ETL candidate for planar PSCs. In summary, this work reports on the fabrication of low-temperature processed PSCs, and can be of interest for the design and fabrication of future low-cost and flexible solar modules.

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Graphene/ZnO nanocomposite as an electron transport layer for perovskite solar cells; the effect of graphene concentration on photovoltaic performance

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/c7ra02036h ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (46) ◽

pp. 28610-28615 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

P. S. Chandrasekhar ◽

Vamsi K. Komarala

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Electron Transport ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Transport Layer ◽

Electron Transport Layer ◽

Electron Transporting Layer

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been fabricated by a graphene/ZnO nanocomposite (G/ZnO NC) as an electron transporting layer.

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Effect of Bathocuproine Concentration on the Photovoltaic Performance of NiOx-Based Perovskite Solar Cells

Journal of the Mexican Chemical Society ◽

10.29356/jmcs.v65i2.1461 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Hamed Moeini Alishah ◽

Fatma Pinar Gokdemir Choi ◽

Ugur Deneb Menda ◽

Cihangir Kahveci ◽

Macide Canturk Rodop ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Sol Gel ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Metal Electrode ◽

Transport Layer ◽

Electron Transport Layer ◽

Vacuum Processing ◽

Processing Techniques

Abstract. Bathocuproine (BCP) (2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) is a well-known material that is employed as a hole-blocking layer between electron transport layer (ETL) and metal electrode in perovskite solar cells. It has been demonstrated that the use of BCP as a buffer layer between the ETL and the metal electrode in perovskite solar cells is highly beneficial. In literature, BCP is coated using vacuum processing techniques. Vacuum processing techniques require more energy and cost-effective processing conditions. In this work, we used BCP layers processed through wet processing techniques using sol-gel method with different concentrations. We achieved a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 16.1 mA/cm2 and an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 875 mV were acquired and a fill factor (FF) of 0.37 was calculated for perovskite solar cells without a BCP layer leading to a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.32 % whereas Jsc of 19 mA/cm2, Voc of 990 mV were achieved and a FF of 0.5 was calculated for perovskite solar cells employing BCP layers with concentration of 0.5 mg/ml and spin cast at 4000 rpm, leading to a PCE of 9.4 %. It has been observed that the use of a BCP layer with an optimized concentration led to an improved device performance with an increase of 77 % in PCE in ambient air under high humidity conditions for planar structure perovskite solar cells in the configuration of ITO/NiOx/MAPbI3/PCBM/BCP/Ag. Resumen. Batocuproina (BCP) (2,9-dimetil-4,7-difenil-1,10-fenantrolina) es un material que se emplea como capa de bloqueo de huecos entre la capa transportadora de electrones (ETL) y el electrodo metálico en celdas solares basados en perovskitas. Se ha demostrado que el uso de BCP como capa amortiguadora entre el ETL y el electrodo metálico en las celdas solares de perovskita es beneficioso. Comúnmente el BCP se recubre mediante técnicas de procesamiento al vacío, las cuales requieren altos costos energéticos. En este trabajo utilizamos capas de BCP procesadas mediante técnicas de procesamiento húmedo utilizando el método sol-gel. Logramos una densidad de corriente de cortocircuito (Jsc) de 16.1 mA / cm2 y un voltaje de circuito abierto (Voc) de 875 mV y se calculó un factor de llenado (FF) de 0.37 para las celdas solares de perovskita sin una capa de BCP lo que conduce a una eficiencia de conversión de energía (PCE) de 5.32%. Para celdas solares de perovskita que emplean capas de BCP con concentración de 0.5 mg/ml y centrifugado a 4000 rpm el valor de Jsc fue de 19 mA / cm2, se lograron Voc de 990 mV y se calculó un FF de 0.5, lo que lleva a un PCE del 9,4%. Se observó que el uso de una capa de BCP con concentración optimizada puede conducir a un rendimiento mejorado del dispositivo con un aumento del 77% en PCE en el aire ambiente, en condiciones de alta humedad, para celdas solares de perovskita de estructura plana en la configuración de ITO / NiOx / MAPbI3 / PCBM / BCP / Ag.

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Fabrication of SnO2 by RF magnetron sputtering for electron transport layer of planar perovskite solar cells

Journal of Physics Conference Series ◽

10.1088/1742-6596/2145/1/012027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2145 (1) ◽

pp. 012027

Author(s):

R Thanimkan ◽

B Namnuan ◽

S Chatraphorn

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Electron Transport ◽

Magnetron Sputtering ◽

Electron Mobility ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Rf Magnetron Sputtering ◽

Transport Layer ◽

Electron Transport Layer ◽

High Electron ◽

High Electron Mobility

Abstract The requirements of electron transport layer (ETL) for high efficiency Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are, for example, appropriate band energy alignment, high electron mobility, high optical transmittance, high stability, and easy processing. SnO2 has attracted more attention as ETL for PSCs because it has diverse advantages, e.g., wide bandgap energy, excellent optical and chemical stability, high transparency, high electron mobility, and easy preparation. The SnO2 ETL was fabricated by RF magnetron sputtering technique to ensure the chemical composition and uniform layer thickness when compared to the use of chemical solution via spin-coating method. The RF power was varied from 60 - 150 W. The Ar sputtering gas pressure was varied from 1 × 10−3 - 6 × 10−3 mbar while keeping O2 partial pressure at 1 × 10−4 mbar. The thickness of SnO2 layer decreases as the Ar gas pressure increases resulting in the increase of sheet resistance. The surface morphology and optical transmission of the SnO2 ETL were investigated. It was found that the optimum thickness of SnO2 layer was approximately 35 - 40 nm. The best device shows Jsc = 27.4 mA/cm2, Voc = 1.03 V, fill factor = 0.63, and efficiency = 17.7%.

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Silver–indium–sulfide quantum dots in titanium dioxide as electron transport layer for highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

Journal of Materials Science Materials in Electronics ◽

10.1007/s10854-019-00691-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 4041-4055 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anusit Kaewprajak ◽

Pisist Kumnorkaew ◽

Takashi Sagawa

Keyword(s):

Quantum Dots ◽

Titanium Dioxide ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Electron Transport ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Transport Layer ◽

Electron Transport Layer ◽

Indium Sulfide ◽

Highly Efficient

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The Way to Pursue Truly High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano9091269 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 1269 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Wu ◽

Thakur ◽

Chiang ◽

Chandel ◽

Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Hole Transport ◽

Transport Layer ◽

Hot Electrons ◽

Electron Transport Layer ◽

Hole Transport Layer ◽

Hot Carriers ◽

Potential Loss

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of single-junction solar cells was theoretically predicted to be limited by the Shockley–Queisser limit due to the intrinsic potential loss of the photo-excited electrons in the light absorbing materials. Up to now, the optimized GaAs solar cell has the highest PCE of 29.1%, which is close to the theoretical limit of ~33%. To pursue the perfect photovoltaic performance, it is necessary to extend the lifetimes of the photo-excited carriers (hot electrons and hot holes) and to collect the hot carriers without potential loss. Thanks to the long-lived hot carriers in perovskite crystal materials, it is possible to completely convert the photon energy to electrical power when the hot electrons and hot holes can freely transport in the quantized energy levels of the electron transport layer and hole transport layer, respectively. In order to achieve the ideal PCE, the interactions between photo-excited carriers and phonons in perovskite solar cells has to be completely understood.

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