Printing PEDOT:PSS optimized using Response surface method (RSM) and genetic algorithm (ga) via modified 3D printer for perovskite solar cell applications

Abstract

Despite significant improvements in solar cell fabrication processes, there are still significant challenges in the fabrication technology owing to poor production efficiency, large equipment and preparatory costs, substrate dependencies, material limitation, etc. This research proposes the use of a modified extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to print thin films of PEDOT:PSS (Poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:poly styrene sulfonate) for perovskite solar cell (PSC) applications and beyond. The main objective of the research is to induce the benefits of 3D printing technology into thin film printing for PSC applications. The central composite design (CCD) of the response surface method (RSM) in design expert software (Design Expert V13) and a genetic algorithm (GA) in MATLAB software are used to design and optimize the experiment, respectively. Accordingly, a uniformly thin PEDOT:PSS film with a 115 nm thickness is printed with the modified 3D printer at a print speed of 82 mm/s, a bed temperature of 80 °C, and an extrusion start position of 160 mm with a 0.1 mm inner diameter blunt needle and a 0.25 mm x-distance offset. To validate the printed PEDOT:PSS film for PSC application, other PSC layers, except for aluminum electrodes, are spin-coated on top of the 3D-printed PEDOT:PSS film, and the PSC is tested for its performance using a solar simulator. From the test, a competitive open-circuit voltage of 860 mV was produced. In general, printing PSC layers by modifying a cheap and easily available 3D printer has the benefits of excellent material utilization, substrate independence, rapid design, manufacture, and testing of solar cells in the electronic industry.