Recent progress in electron transport layers for efficient perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Thin-film photovoltaics based on organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite light absorbers have recently emerged as a promising low-cost solar energy harvesting technology.

Development of electron and hole selective contact materials for perovskite solar cells

“…1, the open circuit voltage (VOC) limit is imposed by the energetics level offset of the selective contact materials. Generally, most electron selective contact materials have an electron affinity or conduction band energy of ∼4 eV [21]. The ionization potential (IP) of the hole selective contact materials varies significantly, and this has a direct effect on VOC, providing all the rest condition are the same.…”

“…In a typical perovskite solar cells, electron selective contact material (ESM) is responsible for selective extraction of electrons at the anode contact, adopted from dye-sensitized solar cells and blocking holes from recombination with injected electrons [21]. Similar to its counterpart HSM, the ESM can be divided into inorganic ESM, organic ESM and composite ESM depending on the nature of the materials (Fig.…”

“…13) [21]. These ESMs are normally used in a p-i-n structured PSC devices, where the perovskite are coated upon a p-type HSM (for example PEDOT:PSS or nickel oxide) before the deposition of an electron selective charge collection layer on top of the perovskite.…”

Performance of planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells under light concentration

“…The ETM and HTM are responsible for extracting the photo-generated charges from the perovskite and transporting those charges to the designated electrodes. Since the first demonstration of perovskite solar cells, extensive studies has been dedicated to their development including investigating different design architecture, [4][5][6] developing efficient ETM and HTM, 4-7 chemical management of perovskite composition, 8,9 etc. Earlier we showed modeling of perovksite solar cell using 2D TCAD simulation.…”

Tuning of perovskite solar cell performance via low-temperature brookite scaffolds surface modifications

“…23,24 The heterojunction interface between the electron transport layer (ETL) and perovskite plays an important role in further improving the device performance. 25 Thus ETL should have high quality pinhole-free films, good adhesion with adjacent layers, high charge extraction capacity, and suitable morphology. Apart from most studied TiO 2 , various other metal oxide materials, thin films, and nanoparticles such as ZnO, 26 SnO 2 , 27,28 In 2 O 3 , 29 SrTiO 3 , 30 and Zn 2 SnO 4 31 have been extensively used as an ETL in both planar and mesoporous PSCs, whereas a systematic interface modification/engineering of the TiO 2 ETL using amino acids, 32 carboxyl groups 33 graphene, 34,35 silane monolayers, 36 and thiols 37 has been employed to improve the charge selection and charge extraction at the TiO 2 /perovskite interface.…”