Use In Perovskite Solar Cells Research Articles

A Comparative Study of Coprecipitation and Solvothermal Techniques for Synthesizing Pure and Cu‐Doped SnO2 Nanoparticles

Tin oxide (SnO2), with its low resistivity properties and high transparency in the visible spectrum, makes it an attractive electron transfer layer (ETL) for use in perovskite solar cells. Here, we use two techniques, coprecipitation and solvothermal, to synthesize pure and 4% copper‐doped SnO2. The X‐ray diffraction patterns revealed that the films synthesized using both methods have a crystalline structure with a tetragonal arrangement. Furthermore, the lack of any secondary peaks indicated the absence of mixed tin oxide (Sn2O4) or copper oxide (CuO) components. Additionally, it demonstrated that adding a 4% Cu doping concentration reduced the crystal size in both methods. The optical results indicate adequate transmission in the central range of the visible spectrum. Calculations were performed to find the energy gap of pure SnO2 in both techniques to be 3.85 eV and 4.17 eV, respectively. When we doped SnO2 with 4% Cu, this band gap energy decreased to 3.75 eV and 3.9 eV. Furthermore, with 4% Cu doping, the particle size decreases, as demonstrated by FESEM. The EDX spectroscopy images revealed that the synthesized nanoparticles consisted of copper, oxygen, and tin. The analysis of functional groups using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and the roughness analysis using AFM images showed a decrease in roughness from 46.1 nm to 12.3 nm in doped samples prepared by solvothermal synthesis, compared to those synthesized by the coprecipitation technique from 4.7 nm to 0.3 nm. We discovered that Cu plays an essential role in reducing nanocrystalline SnO2 particle sizes. In addition, the solvothermal technique is more impressive than coprecipitation in the synthesis of tin oxide nanostructure.

Data-driven solution for supersonic aerodynamics analysis of Perovskite solar cells considering the velocity of sound and Mach number

Due to the use of Perovskite solar cells (PSC) in aerospace applications, so, in this work for the first time, aerodynamic flutter and vibrational analysis of PSC are presented. For modeling the PSCs aerodynamic motion in the mathematical domain, the variational differential quadrature (VDQ) technique is used as a numerical operator for the discretization of various domains. Also, due to improving the stability of the PSC, carbon nanotubes with various distribution patterns as the reinforcement of the metal layer are presented. In this work for modeling the aerodynamics behavior, we use Krumhaar’s modified supersonic piston theory incorporating curvature influence, to simulate the aerodynamic stiffness and damping matrices. Also, for modeling the size effect, a modified couple stress theory with only one length scale factor is suggested. Data-driven solution with the aid of deep neural network with independent variables, input, hidden, and output layers, activation function, neural network’s intrinsic parameters, loss function, and hidden neurons is presented to solve the current applicable structure. The results show that the stability of the system is substantially impacted by the value of the yaw angle, and the link between Mach number and stability is heavily reliant on the value of the yaw angle. Another important outcome is that designing a spherical PSC and increasing its stability should have special attention to the a/b parameter. Also, future engineering research should have special attention that spherical solar cell has the highest natural frequency than other types of solar cells. Other important outcomes of the innovative PSC are presented in the results section for future handbooks on solar cells as sustainable energy.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Application of Vacancy-Ordered Halide Double Perovskite Materials for Solar Cells: A Promising Alternative to Lead-Based Perovskites.

Lead-based halide perovskite materials are being developed as efficient light-absorbing materials for use in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). PSCs have shown remarkable progress in power conversion efficiency, increasing from 3.80% to more than 25% within a decade, showcasing their potential as a promising renewable energy technology. Although PSCs have many benefits, including a high light absorption coefficient, the ability to tune band gap, and a long charge diffusion length, the poor stability and the toxicity of lead represent a significant disadvantage for commercialization. To address this issue, research has focused on developing stable and nontoxic halide perovskites for use in solar cells. A potential substitute is halide double perovskites (HDPs), particularly vacancy-ordered HDPs, as they offer greater promise because they can be processed using a solution-based method. This review provides a structural analysis of HDPs, the various synthesis methods for vacancy-ordered HDPs, and their impact on material properties. Recent advances in vacancy-ordered HDPs are also discussed, including their role in active and transport layers of solar cells. Furthermore, valuable insights for developing high-performance vacancy-ordered HDP solar cells are reported from the detailed information presented in recent simulation studies. Finally, the potential of vacancy-ordered HDPs as a substitute for lead-based perovskites is outlined. Overall, the ability to tune optical and electronic properties and the high stability and nontoxicity of HDPs have positioned them as a promising candidate for use in photovoltaic applications.

A Comparison of the Performance of MAPbI3 and MASnI3 as an Inverted Perovskite Structure Using NiO as HTL Through Numerical GPVDM Simulation

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are solar cells that have intriguing characteristics such as environmental friendliness and the capability for high power conversion efficiency, which have attracted study from both scientific investigation and analytical standpoints. However, lead toxicity has become a significant barrier to the widespread use of PSCs. Due to the serious environmental implications of lead, an environmentally compatible perovskite is required. Tin-based perovskite has a considerable impact, showing that it is a good hole extraction material with good mobility and low effective mass. In this study, we explore the impacts of perovskite and hole transporting layer (HTL) thickness, and intensity of light limitations, in inverted PSCs based on the structure of FTO/NiO/MAPbI<sub>3</sub> /ZnO/Ag and FTO/NiO/MASnI<sub>3</sub> /ZnO/Ag incorporating GPVDM (General-purpose Photovoltaic Device Model) to evaluate if MASnI<sub>3</sub> is a viable substitute to MAPbI<sub>3</sub>. From the simulation results, the optimized parameters obtained for PCSs under 1 sun incorporating MASnI3 were 27.97%, 0.88 a.u., 0.92 V, and 34.45 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>. Instead, the optimized parameters obtained for PCSs incorporating MAPbI<sub>3</sub> were 24.94%, 0.88 a.u., 0.90 V, and 31.03 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>. The thickness of the film of both PSC architectures was optimized to provide the best suitable result. The findings show that MASnI<sub>3</sub> is employed as a promising perovskite layer in PSCs instead of MAPbI<sub>3</sub>.

Seed‐Assisted Cu‐Doped Chemical Bath Deposition for Preparing High‐Quality NiOx Hole‐Transport Layers in Perovskite Solar Cells

P‐type NiOx films are widely used as hole‐transport layers (HTLs) in p–i–n perovskite solar cells (PSCs) owing to their wide bandgap, stability, and optical transmittance. Chemical bath deposition (CBD) is an effective method for growing metal oxide HTLs. However, NiOx films prepared by the CBD method have pinholes because of their small grain size, which makes it difficult to cover the substrate in all directions, leading to severe carrier recombination at the interface between NiOx and perovskite. Herein, the device efficiency is improved from 18.13% to 22.51% using NiOx prepared by CBD with seed‐assisted growth and Cu‐ion doping as the HTL. The addition of crystal seeds significantly enhances the grain size, resulting in better substrate coverage by the prepared NiOx films. Cu‐ion doping improves the conductivity of the film and enhances its ability to extract holes. In addition, the results confirm that this method is suitable for the manufacturing of large‐area modules and has good reproducibility. This research demonstrates an effective CBD method for creating NiOx films for use in PSCs and offers a new approach for preparing inorganic HTLs using CBD.

Charge carrier dynamics across the metal oxide/BaTiO3 interfaces toward photovoltaic applications from the theoretical perspective

Transport layers in perovskite solar cells are the crucial parts in charge carrier extraction and transfer in the solar cell circuit. The physical and chemical properties of their interfaces with neighbouring layers, such as buffer layers, govern the dynamics of electrons across the interface boundaries. Using ab initio calculations, we study in detail the interface properties of metal oxide/BaTiO3 heterostructures. The structural changes near the metal oxide/BaTiO3 interfaces are detailed for the first time. The electronic properties are used to assess the quantities of interest for use in perovskite solar cells (band gap, effective mass, carrier mobility, plane averaged electrostatic potential, band offsets). The analysed results introduce several competing quantities which influence the charge dynamics: the band gap character versus the charge carrier effective mass and the averaged electrostatic potential difference versus the unfavourable conduction band offset. While experimental studies are unable to distinguish the relevance of the competing factors, our results point to the fact that BaTiO3 interlayer morphology plays a more important factor in the cell's performance than its intrinsic properties. Based on the results, general insights are given on the structural requirements for improved buffer layer materials in combinations with metal oxide transport layer used as substrates in the solar cell architecture.

N,N-Bis(9-methyl-3-carbazolyl)-4-anisidine as an Electroactive Material for Use in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Di(9-methyl-3-carbazolyl)-(4-anisyl)amine is presented as an effective hole-transporting material suitable for application in perovskite solar cells. It is obtained by a three-step synthesis from inexpensive starting compounds. It has a relatively high glass transition temperature of 93 °C and thermal stability with 5% weight loss at 374 °C. The compound exhibits reversible double-wave electrochemical oxidation below +1.5 V and polymerization at higher potential. A mechanism for its oxidation is proposed based on electrochemical impedance and electron spin resonance spectroscopy investigations, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared absorption spectroelectrochemistry results, and density functional theory-based calculations. Vacuum-deposited films of the compound are characterized by a low ionization potential of 5.02 ± 0.06 eV and hole mobility of 10-3 cm2/(Vs) at an electric field of 4 × 105 V/cm. The newly synthesized compound has been used to fabricate dopant-free hole-transporting layers in perovskite solar cells. A power conversion efficiency of 15.5% was achieved in a preliminary study.

Lead-free perovskite solar cells, what's next?

Although lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved an efficiency of 25.7 %, the highly toxic composition, element lead, will hinder the use of PSCs in indoor photovoltaics, building-integrated photovoltaics and wearable devices. Therefore, it is imperative to search and study the low-toxicity lead-free perovskites as back-up materials. Recently, encouraging progress is made on lead-free PSCs in terms of Sn perovskites and double perovskites. In this comment, we will summarize the present status and give future perspectives on lead-free perovskite photovoltaics.

Recent advances in polymer and perovskite based third-generation solar cell devices

This review article begins with a comparative overview of the configurations, materials, fabrication methods, and energy conversion efficiency of polymer and perovskite solar cells' photovoltaic performances. Firstly, there has been a significant increase in the adoption of solar cells due to the growing need for renewable and clean energy. Among all photovoltaic technologies, polymer and perovskite solar cells have garnered considerable attention owing to their potential to be affordable, lightweight, easy to manufacture, and quick charging. Research on polymer solar cells has spanned over two decades, whereas the use of perovskite solar cells is just eight years old. This expanding topic offers a wealth of information to readers interested in polymers and perovskite. As a basic comparison, the best power conversion efficiency results are 21.6 percent for a 1 cm2 perovskite solar cell and 15.2 percent for polymer solar cells. Finally, this article recommends necessary improvements and future research areas in polymer and perovskite solar cells.

In-depth understanding the effect of electron-withdrawing/-donating groups on the interfacial carrier dynamics in naphthalimide-treated perovskite solar cells

Surface defect passivation of perovskite films through chemical interaction between specific functional groups and defects has been proven to be an effective technique for enhancing the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, an in-depth understanding of how these passivation materials affect the intrinsic nature of charge-carrier transfer kinetics in PSCs remains shielded so far. Herein, we have designed two naphthalimide-based perovskite surface passivators having electron-withdrawing (-CF3, NSF) or electron-donating (-CH3, NSC) substituents for use in PSCs. Transient absorption spectroscopy (TA) measurements confirmed how the electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups can efficiently turn the hot carriers (HCs) cooling and injection, and interface recombination in the device. We found that NSC-passivated perovskite samples exhibit faster hot-carriers (HCs) injection from the perovskite layer into carrier transport layers before cooling to the crystal lattice compared with the NSF-based and control ones with the order: NSC > NSF > control. Fast HCs injection is advantageous to minimize the charge-carriers recombination and improve PSCs performance. The carrier lifetime in NSC-treated device measured by nanosecond TA exhibits nearly ∼2 times longer than that of NSF-based device, which demonstrates the decreased charge-carrier recombination in NSC-treated device. As expected, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the NSC-treated PSCs is improved to 23.04% compared with that of the device treated with NSF (21.81%). Our findings provide invaluable guide for developing highly efficient passivators to further boost PSCs photovoltaic performance.

The effect of CO2-doped spiro-OMeTAD hole transport layer on FA(1−x)CsxPbI3 perovskite solar cells

Black-phase formamidinium lead iodine with 1.48 eV bandgap is considered to be the most promising material for improving the near-theoretical limit efficiency of perovskite solar cells, but at room temperature, black-phase formamidinium lead iodine easily transforms into the yellow non-perovskite phase formamidinium lead iodine. Here, different ratios of Cs+-incorporated formamidinium lead iodine prepared by one-step processing with the stability and power conversion efficiency of formamidinium lead iodine perovskite solar cells are investigated. FA0.85Cs0.15PbI3 shows the highest power conversion efficiency of 10.63% (Voc = 1.04 V, Jsc = 16.81 mA cm−2, and fill factor = 0.60), and the unencapsulated device maintained 60% of the initial power conversion efficiency after storage in air with 40% humidity for 186 h with an active area of 0.1 cm2, when the ratios of Cs+ reached 15% ( x = 0.15) in formamidinium lead iodine. However, the efficiency of perovskite solar cell–based formamidinium lead iodine is still low. In this work, a simple but an effective strategy was carried out to rapidly and fully oxidize hole transport layer solution by doping CO2 or O2 under ultraviolet light irradiation to increase the conductivity of hole transport layer, thereby improving the power conversion efficiency of solar cells. The results show that FA0.85Cs0.15PbI3 solar cells by CO2-doped hole transport layer for 90 s exhibited the highest power conversion efficiency of 16.11% (VOC = 1.11 V, JSC = 19.73 mA cm−2, and fill factor = 0.74). The improved photovoltaic performance is attributed to CO2-doped spiro-OMeTAD increasing charge carrier density and accelerating charge separation, thereby inducing higher conductivity. CO2 or O2 doped can rapidly and fully oxidize spiro-OMeTAD, and reduce the solar cell fabrication time; it is beneficial to the commercial use of perovskite solar cells.

Advances in Perovskites for Photovoltaic Applications in Space.

Perovskites have emerged as promising light harvesters in photovoltaics. The resulting solar cells (i) are thin and lightweight, (ii) can be produced through solution processes, (iii) mainly use low-cost raw materials, and (iv) can be flexible. These features make perovskite solar cells intriguing as space technologies; however, the extra-terrestrial environment can easily cause the premature failure of devices. In particular, the presence of high-energy radiation is the most dangerous factor that can damage space technologies. This Review discusses the status and perspectives of perovskite photovoltaics in space applications. The main factors used to describe the space environment are introduced, and the results concerning the radiation hardness of perovskites toward protons, electrons, neutrons, and γ-rays are presented. Emphasis is given to the physicochemical processes underlying radiation damage in such materials. Finally, the potential use of perovskite solar cells in extra-terrestrial conditions is discussed by considering the effects of the space environment on the choice of the architecture and components of the devices.

Over 24% efficient MA-free CsxFA1−xPbX3 perovskite solar cells

<h2>Summary</h2> Methylammonium (MA)-free perovskites such as Cs_xFA_1−xPbX₃ (CsFA) show excellent thermal stability, favoring their use in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of CsFA lags behind that of MA-containing formulations due to the difficulty in controlling the film morphology. Herein, we report innovative morphology engineering using solution deposition of a mixture of CsBr, PbI₂, and PbCl₂ followed by vacuum evaporation of formamidinium iodide (FAI) to fabricate CsFA films. The introduction of a chloride precursor leads to larger grain sizes, forming a high-quality CsFA film under annealing. This enables the realization of robust CsFA-based PSCs with the highest reported PCE up to 24.1% (certified 23.9%) for 0.1 cm² and 22.8% for 1 cm² devices. Moreover, the unencapsulated evaporation device shows excellent stability with negligible efficiency decline after 20,000 h of storage in dry air or 1,000 h of exposure to 50% humidity, which is much better than the device prepared using the solution procedure.

Compatibility of Al-doped ZnO electron transport layer with various HTLs and absorbers in perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have shown a significant improvement in cell performance in photovoltaics technology. The commonly used light absorbing material of halide-based perovskite in PSCs has produced high efficiency cells with low cost and a simple fabrication process. However, it contains the harmful substance of Pb, which affects the environment, and the cell still suffers from instability in the long run. Therefore, this work presents a theoretical study of the Pb-free absorber layer of CH3NH3SnI3 that is paired for compatibility with various types of hole transport layers (HTLs). Several key parameters of the absorbent layer and HTL have been optimized to produce the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) using 1D-SCAPS software under AM 1.5 illumination. It was found that the combination of Cu2O and CH3NH3SnI3 used as the HTL and absorbent layer, respectively, has resulted in great PCE as high as 27.72%. These findings prove that the use of inorganic HTLs and Pb-free perovskite layers is promising for use in PSCs.

High Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells Employing Quasi‐2D Ruddlesden‐Popper/Dion‐Jacobson Heterojunctions

AbstractWhile 2D Ruddlesden‐Popper (RP) perovskites exhibit attractive opto‐electronic properties and stability for use in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), their complicated film‐forming processes often induce a non‐negligible level of defects that significantly undermine the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of PSCs. Here, the use of two organic ammonium salts with the same chain length, namely monoammonium (butylammonium iodide, BAI) and diammonium (1,4‐butanediamine dihydroiodide, BDAI2) for surface defect passivation of RP‐2D perovskite films of (AA)2MA4Pb5I16 (n = 5) are reported. It is found that the diammonium BDAI2 not only effectively reduces the defect density (similarly to using monoammonium BAI) but forms a Dion‐Jacobson (DJ) 2D structure to enhance interfacial charge extraction and suppress surface charge recombination. As a result, a boosted PCE of 18.34% has been obtained with a high open‐circuit voltage of 1.24 V. Owing to the enhanced structural integrity of the DJ phase, the RP‐2D/DJ‐2D perovskite heterojunction films exhibit supreme material robustness, which translates to the impressive environmental stability of devices, showing nearly zero‐degradation of the efficiency after 800 h of continuous thermal aging (60 °C) for 800 h. This work enriches the fundamental understanding of the impacts of the DJ‐2D structure on the surface properties of 2D perovskites.

Influence of alkaline metal additives for practical use of perovskite solar cells

Influence of alkaline metal additives for practical use of perovskite solar cells

Efficient colorful perovskite solar cells designed by 2D and 3D ordered titania inverse opals

Improving light-harvesting conversion efficiency (η) is a major step towards commercializing perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Inverse opals prepared from TiO 2 show enhanced light absorption, and improved efficiency, due to increased light scattering. Besides improving efficiency, the cells are colorful and aesthetically pleasing for use in practical applications. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) highly-porous inverse opals were fabricated for use in PSCs. The light-harvesting efficiency (LHE%) and the photovoltaic performance of these colorful ordered structures were studied for the first time. Moreover, two different architectures are presented by integrating a mesoporous TiO 2 (mp-TiO 2 ) layer with an optically active two-dimensional TiO 2 film. Herein, we report the highest known power conversion efficiency for bilayer TiO 2 /PSCs compared to standard mesoporous TiO 2 films. The data indicate improved incident photon to current conversion efficiency values due to enhanced quantum efficiency in the red range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Other approaches relating to the characteristics of optical properties and photovoltaic performances of different geometries of PSCs are discussed. • Three-dimensional (3D) inverse opals were fabricated for use in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). • Two-dimensionally (2D) TiO 2 inverse opals (TIO) were integrated to a mesoporous TiO 2 layer. • Colorful PSCs with an FTO/mp-TiO 2 /TIO (2D) configuration showed high efficiency of 17.64%.

Mapping 30 Years of Sustainability of Solar Energy Research in Developing Countries: Indonesia Case

Research into converting solar light energy into electricity using so-called photovoltaic (PV) technology or solar cells (SCs) was started a long time ago. However, most developing countries tend to lag behind. The present work delivers a bibliometric mapping analysis of 30 years of Indonesian solar energy research papers in the Scopus database. A multidisciplinary point of view is used to cover the findings comprehensively, highlighting the emerging gaps, orientation, and promising future research that will benefit many researchers, governments, and industry. Two essential keywords, “photovoltaic” and “solar cell”, were used to harvest the data. A total of 1886 documents were finally investigated. The VOSviewer was utilized as a proper complement for visualizing and analyzing the publication trends based on the keywords and authorships. Many aspects of solar research have been explored, including the basic science of semiconductors, simulation, lab-scale device fabrication, and the application of technologies and policies. The findings show that the two keywords determined the research characteristics. It also reveals that the geographical location had a remarkable impact on publication distribution. The most striking result is that a minimum of 1146 documents are centralized on Java Island. In addition, the policies related to renewable energy show a strong impact: two years after the policies were announced, the publications exhibited a two-fold increase. The results also suggest that future research should focus on the increasingly significant domestic component of silicon-based solar cells, the various multidisciplinary approaches for making PV utilization more affordable, and on shifting towards the use of perovskite solar cells. Solid national and international collaboration should be continued for the sustainability of Indonesian solar energy research.

A double perovskite participation for promoting stability and performance of Carbon-Based CsPbI2Br perovskite solar cells

All-inorganic perovskite materials (Typically: CsPbI2Br) have attracted enormous attention due to their illustrious thermal stability and appropriate bandgap, and their use in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been extensively investigated. However, the inevitable defects of the perovskite layer, energy level mismatch between perovskite and carbon electrodes, and the phase instability of CsPbI2Br limit the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of carbon-based CsPbI2Br PSCs. Herein, we demonstrate a simple and effective strategy for regulating energy level, inhibiting carrier recombination, and delaying the degradation of perovskite by modifying the surface of CsPbI2Br with a new type of 2D perovskite Cs2PtI6. The carbon-based CsPbI2Br PSCs achieve a higher PCE (13.69 %) than the control device (11.10 %). The excellent matching of the energy level and suppression of charge carrier recombination should be responsible for the improvement in efficiency. Furthermore, the excellent hydrophobic performance of Cs2PtI6 enhances the moisture resistance of the device. This study provides a potential strategy for improving the performance and stability of all-inorganic CsPbI2Br PSCs.

Novel Intense-pulsed-light synthesis of amorphous SnO2 electron-selective layers for efficient planar MAPbI3 perovskite solar cells

Although perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) within a short period of development, the high-temperature sintering of the constituent electron-selective layers (ESLs) impedes the commercialization. In this report, we demonstrate the effectiveness of an intense-pulsed-light (IPL) treatment for the rapid and damage-free sintering of amorphous-SnO2 ESLs for use in PSCs. The IPL treatment of amorphous-SnO2 substantially reduced the amount of surface hydroxyl groups, modified the surface energy, and enabled the growth of a low-stress perovskite layer with large grain sizes, all of which enhanced the photovoltaic properties and led to the proper alignment of band structures for efficient PSCs. Through comprehensive optimization of the IPL conditions, a PCE of 17.68% was achieved from the MAPbI3 planar PSC based on an amorphous-SnO2 IPL treated for a few tens of seconds, which was significantly increased compared with a PCE (7.06%) of nontreated SnO2 based counterpart. In addition, the PCE of the IPL-treated SnO2 based PSC is comparable to the best PCE (18.16%) of PSCs fabricated with SnO2 ESL annealed for three hours at 185 °C. Because of its ultrafast sintering time and tendency to not damage SnO2 ESLs, the new IPL process is expected to open new opportunities for the commercialization of PSCs.