Highly Efficient and Uniform 1 cm2 Perovskite Solar Cells with an Electrochemically Deposited NiOx Hole-Extraction Layer

ChemSusChem. 2017 Jun 22;10(12):2660-2667. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201700612. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

Abstract

Given that the highest certified conversion efficiency of the organic-inorganic perovskite solar cell (PSC) already exceeds 22 %, which is even higher than that of the polycrystalline silicon solar cell, the significance of new scalable processes that can be utilized for preparing large-area devices and their commercialization is rapidly increasing. From this perspective, the electrodeposition method is one of the most suitable processes for preparing large-area devices because it is an already commercialized process with proven controllability and scalability. Here, a highly uniform NiOx layer prepared by electrochemical deposition is reported as an efficient hole-extraction layer of a p-i-n-type planar PSC with a large active area of >1 cm2 . It is demonstrated that the increased surface roughness of the NiOx layer, achieved by controlling the deposition current density, facilitates the hole extraction at the interface between perovskite and NiOx , and thus increases the fill factor and the conversion efficiency. The electrochemically deposited NiOx layer also exhibits extremely uniform thickness and morphology, leading to highly efficient and uniform large-area PSCs. As a result, the p-i-n-type planar PSC with an area of 1.084 cm2 exhibits a stable conversion efficiency of 17.0 % (19.2 % for 0.1 cm2 ) without showing hysteresis effects.

Keywords: charge extraction; electrochemical deposition; methylammonium lead halides; nickel oxides; solar cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Electrochemistry
  • Nickel / chemistry*
  • Oxides / chemistry*
  • Solar Energy*
  • Titanium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Calcium Compounds
  • Oxides
  • perovskite
  • Nickel
  • nickel monoxide
  • Titanium