TY - JOUR

T1 - High performance perovskite solar cells using Cu9S5 supraparticles incorporated hole transport layers

AU - Zhou, Xin

AU - Li, Z.

AU - Deng, Xueshuang

AU - Yan, Bing

AU - Wang, James

AU - Chen, X.

AU - Huang, Sumei

PY - 2019/8/14

Y1 - 2019/8/14

N2 - We disclose novel photovoltaic device physics and present details of device mechanisms by investigating perovskite solar cells (PSCs) incorporating Cu9S5@SiO2 supraparticles (SUPs) into Spiro-OMeTAD based hole transport layers (HTLs). High quality colloidal Cu9S5 nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared using a hot-injection approach. Multiple Cu9S5 NCs were further embedded in silica to construct a Cu9S5@SiO2 SUP. Cu9S5@SiO2 SUPs were blended into Spiro-OMeTAD based HTLs with different weight ratios. Theoretical and experimental results show that the very strong light scattering or reflecting properties of Cu9S5@SiO2 SUPs blended in the PSC device in a proper proportion distribute to increase the light energy trapped within the device, leading to significant enhancement of light absorption in the active layer. Additionally, the incorporated Cu9S5@SiO2 SUPs can also promote the electrical conductivity and hole-transport capacity of the HTL. Significantly larger conductivity and higher hole injection efficiency were demonstrated in the HTM with the optimal weight ratios of Cu9S5@SiO2 SUPs. As a result, efficient Cu9S5 SUPs based PSC devices were obtained with average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.21% at an optimal weight ratio of Cu9S5 SUPs. Compared with PSC solar cells without Cu9S5@SiO2 SUPs (of which the average PCE is 14.38%), a remarkable enhancement over 26% in average PCE was achieved. This study provides an innovative approach to efficiently promote the performance of PSC devices by employing optically stable, low-cost and green p-type semiconductor SUPs.

AB - We disclose novel photovoltaic device physics and present details of device mechanisms by investigating perovskite solar cells (PSCs) incorporating Cu9S5@SiO2 supraparticles (SUPs) into Spiro-OMeTAD based hole transport layers (HTLs). High quality colloidal Cu9S5 nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared using a hot-injection approach. Multiple Cu9S5 NCs were further embedded in silica to construct a Cu9S5@SiO2 SUP. Cu9S5@SiO2 SUPs were blended into Spiro-OMeTAD based HTLs with different weight ratios. Theoretical and experimental results show that the very strong light scattering or reflecting properties of Cu9S5@SiO2 SUPs blended in the PSC device in a proper proportion distribute to increase the light energy trapped within the device, leading to significant enhancement of light absorption in the active layer. Additionally, the incorporated Cu9S5@SiO2 SUPs can also promote the electrical conductivity and hole-transport capacity of the HTL. Significantly larger conductivity and higher hole injection efficiency were demonstrated in the HTM with the optimal weight ratios of Cu9S5@SiO2 SUPs. As a result, efficient Cu9S5 SUPs based PSC devices were obtained with average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.21% at an optimal weight ratio of Cu9S5 SUPs. Compared with PSC solar cells without Cu9S5@SiO2 SUPs (of which the average PCE is 14.38%), a remarkable enhancement over 26% in average PCE was achieved. This study provides an innovative approach to efficiently promote the performance of PSC devices by employing optically stable, low-cost and green p-type semiconductor SUPs.

KW - Cu9S5 nanocrystal

KW - perovskite solar cell

KW - photovoltaic performance enhancement

KW - supraparticle

U2 - 10.1088/1361-6528/ab3604

DO - 10.1088/1361-6528/ab3604

M3 - Article

VL - 30

JO - Nanotechnology

JF - Nanotechnology

SN - 0957-4484

IS - 44

M1 - 445401

ER -