Recycled Utilization of a Nanoporous Au Electrode for Reduced Fabrication Cost of Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) using metal electrodes have been regarded as promising candidates for next‐generation photovoltaic devices because of their high efficiency, low fabrication temperature, and low cost potential. However, the complicated and rigorous thermal deposition process of metal contact electrodes remains a challenging issue for reducing the energy pay‐back period in commercial PSCs, as the ubiquitous one‐time use of a contact electrode wastes limited resources and pollutes the environment. Here, a nanoporous Au film electrode fabricated by a simple dry transfer process is introduced to replace the thermally evaporated Au electrode in PSCs. A high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.0% is demonstrated in PSCs with the nanoporous Au film electrode. Moreover, the electrode is recycled more than 12 times to realize a further reduced fabrication cost of PSCs and noble metal materials consumption and to prevent environmental pollution. When the nanoporous Au electrode is applied to flexible PSCs, a PCE of 17.3% and superior bending durability of ≈98.5% after 1000 cycles of harsh bending tests are achieved. The nanoscale pores and the capability of the porous structure to impede crack generation and propagation enable the nanoporous Au electrode to be recycled and result in excellent bending durability.

Two‐Dimensional Bis(dithiolene)iron(II) Self‐Powered UV Photodetectors with Ultrahigh Air Stability

“…Motivated by the above requirements, we designed a bottom‐up 2D π ‐conjugated CONASH comprising a bis(dithiolene)iron(II) complex [FeBHT in Figure 1a ; this chemical structure could be determined from the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shown in Figure S1 (Supporting Information) and could be further confirmed by our previous XRD result] [ 23 ] to act as the photoactive layer in a photodetector with a structure containing indium tin oxide (ITO)/SnO 2 /FeBHT/2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis‐( N , N ‐di‐ p ‐methoxyphenylamine)9,9′‐spirobifluorene (Spiro‐OMeTAD)/Au, wherein we replaced the liquid electrolytes with a Spiro‐OMeTAD solid‐state layer (known as an efficient hole transporter [ 24 , 25 , 26 ] ) to form a liquid‐free device. In addition, FeBHT was synthesized via coordination reactions between iron(II) ammonium sulfate [Fe(NH 4 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 2 ] and benzenehexathiol (BHT).…”

Toward Real Setting Applications of Organic and Perovskite Solar Cells: A Comparative Review

“…Moreover, current methods allow the reliable fabrication of metallic electrodes by high‐vacuum thermal processes, with a great impact on overall fabrication costs and limiting the scale‐up potential of the technology. [ 200 ]…”

“…Moreover, current methods allow the reliable fabrication of metallic electrodes by high-vacuum thermal processes, with a great impact on overall fabrication costs and limiting the scale-up potential of the technology. [200] Similar considerations apply to electrodes based on TCOs, usually fabricated by low throughput and relatively inefficient vacuum deposition processes. The use of wet processes, in contrast, is considered as a low-cost and potentially scalable alternative for the fabrication of electrodes.…”

“One-key-reset” recycling of whole perovskite solar cell

“…More recently, several new strategies have been reported. 18 For example, Yang et al 19 reported a dry transfer process to replace the thermally evaporated Au electrode in perovskite solar cells, which can be repeatedly used for more than 12 cycles. Park et al 20 developed a new magnetic adsorbent (HAP/Fe composite) that can have strong Pb uptake capacity and consequently a 99.97% Pb recycling yield.…”