Work-Function-Tunable Electron Transport Layer of Molecule-Capped Metal Oxide for a High-Efficiency and Stable p-i-n...

The composite electron transporting layer (ETL) of metal oxide with [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) prevents perovskite from metal electrode erosion and increases p-i-n perovskite solar cell (PVSC) stability. Although the oxide exhibits protective function, an additional work function modifier is still needed for good device performance. Usually, complicated multistep synthesis is employed to have a highly crystalline film that increases manufacturing cost and inhibits scalability. We report a facile synthesis of a novel organic-molecule-capped metal oxide nanoparticle film for the composite ETL. The nanoparticle film not only has a dual function of electron transport and protection but also exhibits work function tunability. Solvothermal-prepared SnO₂ nanoparticles are capped with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH) through ligand exchange. The resulting TBAOH-SnO₂ nanoparticles disperse well in ethanol and form a uniform film on PCBM. The power conversion efficiency of the device dramatically increases from 14.91 to 18.77% using this layer because of reduced charge accumulation and aligned band structure. The PVSC thermal stability is significantly enhanced by adopting this layer, which prevents migration of I^- and Ag. The ligand exchange method extends to other metal oxides, such as TiO₂, ITO, and CeO₂, demonstrating its broad applicability. These results provide a cornerstone for large-scale manufacture of high-performance and stable PVSCs.