Investigating the effects of carbon-based counter electrode layers on the efficiency of hole-transporter-free perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells with organometal halides of inorganic–organic hybrid materials have been under investigation in the area of energy-conversion research and development. Among the various perovskite solar cells, the carbon-based hole-transporter-free type is a better option because of its low materials and manufacturing costs, availability, high efficiency, and long-term stability. In this study, carbon black (CB) and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) paste layers were prepared and applied to fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive surfaces of the hole-transporter-free CH₃NH₃PbI₃ perovskite solar cells as counter electrodes using the spin coating process. Cell performance studies were conducted on the prepared samples using a solar simulator. The effects of the current density–voltage (J–V) characteristics and hysteresis of perovskite solar cells of both CB- and MWCNT-based layers were evaluated in detail. It was determined that MWCNT-based solar cells have better short-circuit densities and possess higher power conversion efficiencies compared to CB paste-based solar cells. In both cases, the efficiencies of the carbon-based perovskite solar cells were considerably enhanced, which might be useful to improve the overall perovskite solar cell efficiencies.

Keywords

Carbon-based counter electrodes / Perovskite solar cells / Hole-transport mechanisms / Cell efficiencies

References

[1] Aitola K, Sveinbjornsson K, Correa- Baena JP, Kaskela A, Abate A, Tian Y, Joahansson EMJJ, Gratze M, Kauppinen EI, Hagfeldt A, Boschloo G. Carbon nanotube-based hybrid hole-transporting material and selective contact for high efficiency perovskite solar cells. Energy Environ Sci, 2015, 9: 1-9

[2] Almora O, Aranda C, Zarazua I, Guerrero A, Belmonte GG. Noncapacitive hysteresis in perovskite solar cells at room temperature. ACS Energy Lett, 2016, 1: 209-215

[3] Assadia MK, Bakhoda S, Saidur R, Hanaei H. Recent progress in perovskite solar cells. Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 2018, 81: 2812-2822

[4] Bach U, Lupo D, Comte P, Moser JE, Weissortel F, Salbeck J, Spreitzer H, Gratzel M. Solid-state dye-sensitized mesoporous TiO₂ solar cells with high photon-to-electron conversion efficiencies. Nature, 1998, 395: 583-585

[5] Cucchiella F, D’Adamo I, Koh SCL. Environmental and economic analysis of building integrated photovoltaic systems in Italian regions. J Clean Prod, 2015, 98: 241-252

[6] Eperon GE, Burlakov VM, Docampo P, Goriely A. Morphological control for high performance, solution-processed planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. Adv Funct, 2014, 24: 151-157

[7] Gopi CVV, Haritha MV, Prabakar K, Kim HJ. Low-temperature easy-processed carbon nanotubes contact for high-performance metal-and hole-transporting layer-free perovskite solar cells. J Photochem Photobiol A, 2017, 332: 265-272

[8] Green MA. Crystalline and thin-film silicon solar cells: State of the art and future potential. Sol Energy, 2003, 74: 181-192

[9] Green MA, Ho-Baillie A, Snaith HJ. The emergence of perovskite solar cells. Nat Photonics, 2014, 9: 506-514

[10] Green MA, Emery K, Hishikawa Y, Warta W, Dunlop ED. Solar cell efficiency tables (version 45). Prog Photovolt, 2015, 23: 1-9

[11] Heo JH, Im SH, Noh JH, Mandal TN, Lim CS, Chang JA, Lee YH, Kim HJ, Sarkar A, Nazeeruddin MdK, Gratzel M, Seok SI. Efficient inorganic–organic hybrid heterojunction solar cells containing perovskite compound and polymeric hole conductors. Nat Photonics, 2013, 7: 486-491

[12] Im JH, Lee CR, Lee JW, Park SW, Park NG. 6.5% efficient perovskite quantum-dot-sensitized solar cell. Nanoscale, 2011, 3: 4088-4093

[13] Jeon NJ, Noh JH, Yang WS, Kim YC, Ryu S, Seo J, Seok SI. Compositional engineering of perovskite materials for high-performance solar cells. Nature, 2015, 57: 476-480

[14] Kamat PV. Evolution of perovskite photovoltaics and decrease in energy payback time. J Phys Chem, 2013, 4: 3733-3734

[15] Kazmerski L. Best research cell efficiencies, 2010 Golden National Renewable Energy Laboratory

[16] Kim HS, Lee CR, Im JH, Lee KB, Moehl T, Marchioro A, Moon SJ, Baker RH, Yum JH, Moser JE, Grätzel M, Park NG. Lead iodide perovskite sensitized all-solid-state submicron thin film mesoscopic solar cell with efficiency exceeding 9%. Sci Rep, 2012, 2: 1-7

[17] Kim HS, Lee CR, Im JM, Lee KB, Moehl T, Marchioro A, Mon SJ, Baker RH, Yum JH, Moser JE, Gratzel M, Park NG. Lead iodide perovskite sensitized all-solid-state submicron thin film mesoscopic solar cell with efficiency exceeding 9%. Sci Rep, 2012, 2: 591-598

[18] Kim HS, In-Hyuk J, Ahn N, Choi M, Guerrero A, Bisquert J, Park NG. Control of I−V hysteresis in CH₃NH₃PbI₃ perovskite solar cell. J Phys Chem, 2015, 6: 4633-4639

[19] Kojima A, Teshima K, Miyasaka T, Shirai Y (2006) Novel photoelectrochemical cell with mesoscopic electrodes sensitized by lead-halide compounds (2). In: Proceedings of the 210th ECS Meeting (ECS), Mexico. http://ma.ecsdl.org/content/MA2006-02/7/397.full.pdf+html

[20] Kojima K, Teshima K, Shirai Y, Miyasaka T. Organometal halide perovskites as visible-light sensitizers for photovoltaic cells. JACS, 2009, 131: 6050-6051

[21] Kojima A, Tashima K, Shirai Miyasaka T. Organometal halide perovskites as visible-light sensitizers for photovoltaic cells. J Am Chem Soc, 2009, 131: 6050-6051

[22] Kumar R, Bhargava P. Fabrication of a counter electrode using glucose as carbon material for dye sensitized solar cells. Mater Sci Semicond Process, 2015, 40: 331-336

[23] Kumar R, Bhargava P. Synthesis and characterization of carbon-based counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using organic precursor 2-2′Bipyridine (Bpy) as a carbon material. J Alloys Compd, 2018, 748: 905-910

[24] Kumar R, Nemala SS, Mallick S, Bhargava P. High efficiency dye sensitized solar cell made by carbon derived from sucrose. Opt Mater, 2017, 64: 401-405

[25] Lee MM, Teuscher J, Miyasaka T, Murakami TN, Snaith HJ. Efficient hybrid solar cells based on meso-superstructured organometal halide perovskites. Science, 2012, 338: 643-647

[26] Li H, Cao K, Cui J, Liu S, Qiao X, Shen Y, Wang M. 14.7% efficient mesoscopic perovskite solar cells using single walled carbon nanotubes/carbon composite counter. Nanoscale, 2016, 8: 6397

[27] Liu M, Johnston MB, Snaith HJ. Efficient planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells by vapour deposition. Nature, 2013, 501: 395-398

[28] Luo S, Daoud WA. Crystal structure formation of CH3NH3PbI3-xClx perovskite. J Mater Sci, 2016, 9: 1-13

[29] Meng F, Liu A, Gao L, Gao J, Yan Y, Wang N, Fan M, Weib G, Ma T. Current progress in interfacial engineering of carbon-based perovskite solar cells. J Mater Chem, 2019, 7: 8690-8699

[30] Mohammed TI, Kon SCLI, Reaney M, Acquaye A, Schileo G, MustaphaK B, Greenough R. Perovskite solar cells: an integrated hybrid lifecycle assessment and review in comparison with other photovoltaic technologies. Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 2017, 80: 1321-1344

[31] Noh JH, Im SH, Heo JH, Mandal TN, Seok SI. Chemical management for colorful efficient, and stable inorganic-organic hybrid nanostructured solar cells. Nano Lett, 2013, 13: 1764-1769

[32] Onwubiko J (2017) Low-temperature carbon-based counter electrodes for hole transport free perovskite solar cells fabricated in ambient conditions. M.S. Thesis, Wichita State University

[33] Reichelstein S, Yorston M. The prospects for cost competitive solar PV power. Energy Policy, 2013, 55: 117-127

[34] Rong Y, Ku Z, Mei A, Liu T, Xu M, Ko S, Li X, Han H. Hole-conductor-free mesoscopic TiO₂/CH₃NH₃PbI₃ heterojunction solar cells based on anatase nano sheets and carbon counter electrodes. J Phys Chem, 2014, 5: 2160-2164

[35] Salbeck J, Yu N, Bauer J, Weissörtel F, Bestgen H. Low molecular organic glasses for blue electroluminescence. Synth Met, 1997, 91: 209-215

[36] U.S Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (2005) Does the world enough materials for PV to help address climate Change? https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy05osti/37656.pdf

[37] Wei Z, Chen H, Yan K, Zheng X, Yang S. Hysteresis-free multi-wall carbon nanotube-based perovskite solar cells with a high fill factor. J Mater Chem, 2015, 3: 1-7

[38] Wei Z, Chen H, Yan K, Zheng X, Yang S. Hysteresis-free multi-walled carbon nanotube-based perovskite solar cells with a high fill factor. J Mater Chem, 2015, 3: 24226-24231

[39] Yan J, Saunders BR. Third-generation solar cells: A review and comparison of polymer: fullerene, hybrid polymer and perovskite solar cells. RSC Adv, 2014, 4: 43286-43314

[40] Zhang L, Liu T, Liu L, Hu M, Yang Y, Mei A, Han H. The effect of carbon counter electrode on fully printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cell. J Mater Chem, 2015, 3: 9165-9170

[41] Zhang W, Saliba M, Moore DT, Pathak SK, Horantner MT, Stergiopoulos T, Stranks SD, Eperon GE, Alexander- Webber JA, Abate A, Sadhanala A, Yao S, Chen Y, Friend RH, Estroff LA, Wiesner U, Snaith HJ. Ultrasmooth organic-inorganic perovskite thin-film formation and crystallization for efficient planar heterojunction solar cells. Nat Commun, 2015, 6: 1-10