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Influence of Hybrid Perovskite Fabrication Methods on Film Formation, Electronic Structure, and Solar Cell Performance
Published on: February 27, 2017
Naphthalene Diimide-Modified SnO2 Enabling Low-Temperature Processing for Efficient ITO-Free Flexible Perovskite
Il-Wook Cho1,2, Ga Yeon Kim1, Sangcho Kim1
1Research Institute for Solar and Sustainable Energies, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123, Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.
Researchers developed a low-temperature, indium-tin-oxide-free flexible perovskite solar cell using modified tin dioxide as an electron transport layer. This advancement overcomes processing challenges for commercialization, achieving a record power conversion efficiency of 17.48%.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Photovoltaics
Background:
- Flexible perovskite solar cells (PSCs) face commercialization hurdles due to high processing temperatures and electrode degradation.
- Indium-tin-oxide (ITO)-free electrodes are desirable for low-cost, flexible PSCs, but efficient electron transport layers (ETLs) often require high annealing temperatures.
- Ion migration and electrode oxidation in PSCs further limit device performance and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient electron transport layer (ETL) material for low-temperature fabrication of indium-tin-oxide (ITO)-free flexible perovskite solar cells (PSCs).
- To address challenges associated with high processing temperatures and ion migration in flexible PSCs.
- To enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of flexible PSCs.
Main Methods:
- Modification of tin dioxide (SnO2) with (sulfobetaine-N,N-dimethylamino)propyl naphthalene diimide (NDI-B) to create a novel ETL.
- Fabrication of ITO-free flexible PSCs utilizing the NDI-B-blended SnO2 ETL at low temperatures.
- Characterization of the ETL's effect on interfacial recombination and ion migration.
Main Results:
- The NDI-B modification effectively reduced interfacial nonradiative recombination between the ETL and perovskite.
- The NDI-B-blended SnO2 ETL passivated oxygen-vacancy defects and interacted with halogen ions, suppressing ion migration.
- An ITO-free flexible PSC fabricated using the NDI-B-blended SnO2 ETL achieved a record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.48% at low processing temperatures.
Conclusions:
- The developed NDI-B-blended SnO2 ETL enables low-temperature processing for ITO-free flexible PSCs.
- This approach effectively mitigates key issues like interfacial recombination and ion migration, crucial for device performance.
- The achieved record PCE demonstrates the potential of this technology for the commercialization of efficient and low-cost flexible solar cells.
