Low-temperature sprayed carbon electrode in modular HTL-free perovskite solar cells: a comparative study on the choice of carbon sources
- 4 February 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in Journal of Materials Chemistry C
- Vol. 9 (10), 3546-3554
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d0tc05528j
Abstract
Due to their outstanding advantages like excellent moisture resistance and compatibility with up-scalable manufacturing processes, carbon (C) electrode hole transport layer (HTL)-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) represent an excellent solution to the serious limitations caused by the commonly used HTL and expensive noble metal electrode. The C-electrode can be deposited using different techniques from various carbon allotropes and their derivatives. However, the choice of optimal carbon sources is still open to debate, which will certainly have a strong effect on the performance and long-term stability of the resulting PSCs. Here, the modular HTL-free C-PSCs were assembled by the lamination of two independently processed half-stacks of a semi-cell and a charge collector, where the C-electrodes were processed using a simple spray coating technique at low temperature (85 °C). Three typical carbon sources were used, i.e., multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), carbon nanocoil (CNC), and graphene. A comparative study was conducted to determine the best candidate. Results indicated that MWCNT might be more preferable as the back electrode in HTL-free PSCs in terms of well-aligned band alignment, superior ability in extraction and collection of photo-generated holes. As a result, an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.2% was achieved for modular MWCNT-based PSCs, and much improved thermal and humidity stabilities were also demonstrated. Our achievement demonstrates the irreplaceable role of tri-functional MWCNT in C-based HTL-free PSCs with integrated function: (i) back electrode; (ii) hole extraction and collection; and (iii) excellent moisture barrier.Funding Information
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (51872036, 51773025)
- Dalian Science and Technology Bureau (2018J12GX033, 2019J12GX032)
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (DUT19LAB07)
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