Bio-inspired interface engineering with sodium caseinate-doped bathocuproine (BCP) for stable and efficient inverted...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Photovoltaics

Background:

• Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are researched for high efficiency and solution processability.
• Inverted PSCs require buffer layers for charge extraction and reduced recombination.
• Bathocuproine (BCP) is a common buffer, but its interfacial effects need further study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of incorporating sodium caseinate into the BCP buffer layer in inverted PSCs.
• To assess the effects of sodium caseinate on interfacial properties and device performance.
• To explore casein as a novel additive for interface engineering in perovskite photovoltaics.

Main Methods:

• Modified buffer layer by introducing sodium caseinate into BCP.
• Characterization of interfacial electronic properties and trap state density.
• Fabrication and performance testing of inverted PSC devices.

Main Results:

• Sodium caseinate addition improved interfacial quality and buffer layer conductivity.
• Reduced trap state density was observed with the modified buffer layer.
• Power conversion efficiency (PCE) increased from 14.4% to 16.5%.
• Enhanced long-term operational stability of the PSC devices.

Conclusions:

• Sodium caseinate acts as a multifunctional additive for interface engineering in PSCs.
• Casein incorporation offers a promising strategy for improving PSC performance and stability.
• This approach contributes to the advancement of efficient and durable perovskite solar cell technology.