Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells with Ultrathin Protective Buffer Layers

Erica Magliano; Paolo Mariani; Antonio Agresti; Sara Pescetelli; Fabio Matteocci; Babak Taheri; Antonio Cricenti; Marco Luce; Aldo Di Carlo

doi:10.1021/acsaem.3c00735

Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells with Ultrathin Protective Buffer Layers

ACS Appl Energy Mater. 2023 Oct 5;6(20):10340-10353. doi: 10.1021/acsaem.3c00735. eCollection 2023 Oct 23.

Authors

Erica Magliano¹, Paolo Mariani¹, Antonio Agresti¹, Sara Pescetelli¹, Fabio Matteocci¹, Babak Taheri², Antonio Cricenti³, Marco Luce³, Aldo Di Carlo^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ C.H.O.S.E. (Center for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy), Electronic Engineering Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
² ENEA - Centro Ricerche Frascati, Via Enrico Fermi, 45, 00044, Frascati, Rome, Italy.
³ Istituto di Struttura della Materia (CNR-ISM) National Research Council, via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Rome, Italy.

Abstract

Semitransparent perovskite solar cells (ST-PSCs) are increasingly important in a range of applications, including top cells in tandem devices and see-through photovoltaics. Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) are commonly used as transparent electrodes, with sputtering being the preferred deposition method. However, this process can damage exposed layers, affecting the electrical performance of the devices. In this study, an indium tin oxide (ITO) deposition process that effectively suppresses sputtering damage was developed using a transition metal oxides (TMOs)-based buffer layer. An ultrathin (<10 nm) layer of evaporated vanadium oxide or molybdenum oxide was found to be effective in protecting against sputtering damage in ST-PSCs for tandem applications, as well as in thin perovskite-based devices for building-integrated photovoltaics. The identification of minimal parasitic absorption, the high work function and the analysis of oxygen vacancies denoted that the TMO layers are suitable for use in ST-PSCs. The highest fill factor (FF) achieved was 76%, and the efficiency (16.4%) was reduced by less than 10% when compared with the efficiency of gold-based PSCs. Moreover, up-scaling to 1 cm²-large area ST-PSCs with the buffer layer was successfully demonstrated with an FF of ∼70% and an efficiency of 15.7%. Comparing the two TMOs, the ST-PSC with an ultrathin V₂O_x layer was slightly less efficient than that with MoO_x, but its superior transmittance in the near infrared and greater light-soaking stability (a T₈₀ of 600 h for V₂O_x compared to a T₈₀ of 12 h for MoO_x) make V₂O_x a promising buffer layer for preventing ITO sputtering damage in ST-PSCs.