Abstract
In this study, a new, simple, and novel oblique electrostatic inkjet (OEI) technique is developed to deposit a titanium oxide (TiO2) compact layer (CL) on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate without the need for a vacuum environment for the first time. The TiO2 is used as electron transport layers (ETL) in planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This bottom-up OEI technique enables the control of the surface morphology and thickness of the TiO2 CL by simply manipulating the coating time. The OEI-fabricated TiO2 is characterized tested and the results are compared with that of TiO2 CLs produced by spin-coating and spray pyrolysis. The OEI-deposited TiO2 CL exhibits satisfactory surface coverage and smooth morphology, conducive for the ETLs in PSCs. The power-conversion efficiencies of PSCs with OEI-deposited TiO2 CL as the ETL were as high as 13.19%. Therefore, the present study provides an important advance in the effort to develop simple, low-cost, and easily scaled-up techniques. OEI may be a new candidate for depositing TiO2 CL ETLs for highly efficient planar PSCs, thus potentially contributing to future mass production.
Highlights
In this study, a new, simple, and novel oblique electrostatic inkjet (OEI) technique is developed to deposit a titanium oxide (TiO2) compact layer (CL) on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate without the need for a vacuum environment for the first time
Electrostatic inkjet deposition (EI) discharges TiO2 paste in the form of a spray via electrostatic force in the direction perpendicular to the FTO substrate, resulting in large droplets stacked among the thick layers on the resultant substrate due to the gravity acting upon the droplet
The CLs prepared by OEI are implemented as electron transport layers (ETL) in planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs)
Summary
A new, simple, and novel oblique electrostatic inkjet (OEI) technique is developed to deposit a titanium oxide (TiO2) compact layer (CL) on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate without the need for a vacuum environment for the first time. It may be implied that OEI enables the fabrication of a smooth surface morphology while allowing for easy control of the TiO2 CL thickness, both of which are required for enhancing the performance of PSCs, it remains a challenge to use OEI-deposited TiO2 CLs in planar PSCs to achieve good electron injection and extraction.
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