Abstract
P-type wide bandgap semiconductor materials such as CuI, NiO, Cu2O and CuSCN are currently undergoing intense research as viable alternative hole transport materials (HTMs) to the spiro-OMeTAD in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Despite 23.3% efficiency of PSCs, there are still a number of issues in addition to the toxicology of Pb such as instability and high-cost of the current HTM that needs to be urgently addressed. To that end, copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) HTMs in addition to robustness have high stability, high hole mobility, and suitable energy levels as compared to spiro-OMeTAD HTM. CuSCN HTM layer use affordable materials, require short synthesis routes, require simple synthetic techniques such as spin-coating and doctor-blading, thus offer a viable way of developing cost-effective PSCs. HTMs play a vital role in PSCs as they can enhance the performance of a device by reducing charge recombination processes. In this review paper, we report on the current progress of CuSCN HTMs that have been reported to date in PSCs. CuSCN HTMs have shown enhanced stability when exposed to weather elements as the solar devices retained their initial efficiency by a greater percentage. The efficiency reported to date is greater than 20% and has a potential of increasing, as well as maintaining thermal stability.
Highlights
We have recently witnessed the rise of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on organic–inorganic halide perovskites as the generation of thin-film solar cells
The current progress on PSC employing CuSCN hole transport materials (HTMs) has been provided in detail
This review paper has shown that CuSCN HTM thin films can be deposited by simple and affordable techniques
Summary
We have recently witnessed the rise of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on organic–inorganic halide perovskites as the generation of thin-film solar cells. This device architecture had an efficiency of 9.7% and was similar to that of DSSCs, with the liquid electrolyte solid spiro-OMeTAD. In order to improve the performance of spiro-OMeTAD, additives such as Li-TFSI bis lithium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide and silver bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (AgTFSI). The PCE of the CuI-based HTM swiftly reached 16.8% in inverted planar architecture [20] Inherent advantages, such as the ability to reduce the production costs, suitable energy levels, high hole mobility as well as enhancement of its resistance to degradation, make inorganic HTMs a promising class of materials to replace spiro-OMeTAD [21,22]. The stability of PSCs has been improved by inorganic HTMs and the conversion efficiency has rapidly increased in the past few years [23].
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