Role of the ZnO electron transport layer in PbS colloidal quantum dot solar cell yield

Arlene Chiu; Chengchangfeng Lu; Dana E Kachman; Eric Rong; Sreyas M Chintapalli; Yida Lin; Daniel Khurgin; Susanna M Thon

doi:10.1039/d3nr06558h

Role of the ZnO electron transport layer in PbS colloidal quantum dot solar cell yield

Nanoscale. 2024 May 2;16(17):8273-8285. doi: 10.1039/d3nr06558h.

Authors

Arlene Chiu¹, Chengchangfeng Lu¹, Dana E Kachman¹, Eric Rong¹, Sreyas M Chintapalli¹, Yida Lin¹, Daniel Khurgin¹, Susanna M Thon^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA. susanna.thon@jhu.edu.
² Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA.

PMID: 38592692
DOI: 10.1039/d3nr06558h

Abstract

The development of lead sulfide (PbS) colloidal quantum dot (CQD) solar cells has led to significant power conversion efficiency (PCE) improvements in recent years, with record efficiencies now over 15%. Many of the recent advances in improving PCE have focused on improving the interface between the PbS CQD active layer and the zinc oxide (ZnO) electron transport layer (ETL). Proper optimization of the ZnO ETL also increases yield, or the percentage of functioning devices per fabrication run. Simultaneous improvements in both PCE and yield will be critical as the field approaches commercialization. This review highlights recent advances in the synthesis of ZnO ETLs and discusses the impact and critical role of ZnO synthesis conditions on the PCE and yield of PbS CQD solar cells.

Publication types

Review