Solution-processed flexible planar perovskite solar cells: A strategy to enhance efficiency by controlling the ZnO electron transfer layer, PbI2 phase, and CH3NH3PbI3 morphologies

Abstract

This paper reports a synergistic strategy to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of flexible planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by controlling the thickness of the ZnO electron transport layer (ETL), PbI2 phase, and size/morphology of the perovskite (MAPbI3) absorber layer. To optimize the size/morphology of MAPbI3 via a two-step spin coating process, various volumes of CH3NH3I precursor solutions with a constant concentration were continuously coated, which greatly affected the grain growth condition of the MAPbI3. In addition, the remnant PbI2 phase in the MAPbI3, which acted as a recombination barrier, was simultaneously controlled. This strategic method to synergistically combine the major factors affecting the final PCE resulted in the best efficiency of 12.3%, which is the highest efficiency among ZnO-ETL-based flexible planar PSCs to date.