Solution-Processed Nb:SnO2 Electron Transport Layer for Efficient Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

Xiaodong Ren; Dong Yang; Zhou Yang; Jiangshan Feng; Xuejie Zhu; Jinzhi Niu; Yucheng Liu; Wangen Zhao; Shengzhong Frank Liu

doi:10.1021/acsami.6b13362

Solution-Processed Nb:SnO₂ Electron Transport Layer for Efficient Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2017 Jan 25;9(3):2421-2429. doi: 10.1021/acsami.6b13362. Epub 2017 Jan 12.

Authors

Xiaodong Ren¹, Dong Yang¹, Zhou Yang¹, Jiangshan Feng¹, Xuejie Zhu¹, Jinzhi Niu¹, Yucheng Liu¹, Wangen Zhao¹, Shengzhong Frank Liu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, National Ministry of Education; Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Advanced Energy Devices; Shaanxi Engineering Lab for Advanced Energy Technology; School of Materials Science & Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an 710119, P. R. China.
² Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Dalian 116023, P. R. China.

PMID: 27995789
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b13362

Abstract

Electron transport layer (ETL), facilitating charge carrier separation and electron extraction, is a key component in planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We developed an effective ETL using low-temperature solution-processed Nb-doped SnO₂ (Nb:SnO₂). Compared to the pristine SnO₂, the power conversion efficiency of PSCs based on Nb:SnO₂ ETL is raised to 17.57% from 15.13%. The splendid performance is attributed to the excellent optical and electronic properties of the Nb:SnO₂ material, such as smooth surface, high electron mobility, appropriate electrical conductivity, therefore making a better growth platform for a high quality perovskite absorber layer. Experimental analyses reveal that the Nb:SnO₂ ETL significantly enhances the electron extraction and effectively suppresses charge recombination, leading to improved solar cell performance.

Keywords: Nb:SnO2; low temperature; perovskite; solar cells; solution processing.