Devendra Khatiwada

Interfacial Study To Suppress Charge Carrier Recombination for High Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells.

We report effects of an interface between TiO2-perovskite and grain-grain boundaries of perovskite films prepared by single step and sequential deposited technique using different annealing times at optimum temperature. Nanoscale kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurement shows that charge transport in a perovskite solar cell critically depends upon the annealing conditions. The KPFM results of single step and sequential deposited films show that the increase in potential barrier suppresses the back-recombination between electrons in TiO2 and holes in perovskite. Spatial mapping of the surface potential within perovskite film exhibits higher positive potential at grain boundaries compared to the surface of the grains. The average grain boundary potential of 300-400 mV is obtained upon annealing for sequentially deposited films. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra indicate the formation of a PbI2 phase upon annealing which suppresses the recombination. Transient analysis exhibits that the optimum device has higher carrier lifetime and short carrier transport time among all devices. An optimum grain boundary potential and proper band alignment between the TiO2 electron transport layer (ETL) and the perovskite absorber layer help to increase the overall device performance.

Enhanced Lifetime of Polymer Solar Cells by Surface Passivation of Metal Oxide Buffer Layers

The role of electron selective interfaces on the performance and lifetime of polymer solar cells were compared and analyzed. Bilayer interfaces consisting of metal oxide films with cationic polymer modification namely poly ethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) were found to enhance device lifetime compared to bare metal oxide films when used as an electron selective cathode interface. Devices utilizing surface-modified metal oxide layers showed enhanced lifetimes, retaining up to 85% of their original efficiency when stored in ambient atmosphere for 180 days without any encapsulation. The work function and surface potential of zinc oxide (ZnO) and ZnO/PEIE interlayers were evaluated using Kelvin probe and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) respectively. Kelvin probe measurements showed a smaller reduction in work function of ZnO/PEIE films compared to bare ZnO films when aged in atmospheric conditions. KPFM measurements showed that the surface potential of the ZnO surface drastically reduces when stored in ambient air for 7 days because of surface oxidation. Surface oxidation of the interface led to a substantial decrease in the performance in aged devices. The enhancement in the lifetime of devices with a bilayer interface was correlated to the suppressed surface oxidation of the metal oxide layers. The PEIE passivated surface retained a lower Fermi level when aged, which led to lower trap-assisted recombination at the polymer-cathode interface. Further photocharge extraction by linearly increasing voltage (Photo-CELIV) measurements were performed on fresh and aged samples to evaluate the field required to extract maximum charges. Fresh devices with a bare ZnO cathode interlayer required a lower field than devices with ZnO/PEIE cathode interface. However, aged devices with ZnO required a much higher field to extract charges while aged devices with ZnO/PEIE showed a minor increase compared to the fresh devices. Results indicate that surface modification can act as a suitable passivation layer to suppress oxidation in metal oxide thin films for enhanced lifetime in inverted organic solar cells.

Room temperature, air crystallized perovskite film for high performance solar cells

For the first time, room temperature heating free growth and crystallization of perovskite films in ambient air without the use of thermal annealing is reported. Highly efficient perovskite nanorod-based solar cells were made using ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CH3NH3PbI3 nanorods/PC60BM/rhodamine/Ag. All the layers except PEDOT:PSS were processed at room temperature thereby eliminating the need for thermal treatment. Perovskite films were spin coated inside a N2 filled glovebox and immediately were taken outside in air having 40% relative humidity (RH). Exposure to humid air was observed to promote the crystallization process in perovskite films even at room temperature. Perovskite films kept for 5 hours in ambient air showed nanorod-like morphology having high crystallinity, with devices exhibiting the highest PCE of 16.83%, which is much higher than the PCE of 11.94% for traditional thermally annealed perovskite film based devices. It was concluded that moisture plays an important role in room temperature crystallization of pure perovskite nanorods, showing improved optical and charge transport properties, which resulted in high performance solar cells.

Device and morphological engineering of organic solar cells for enhanced charge transport and photovoltaic performance

Abstract. Conjugated polymers are potential materials for photovoltaic applications due to their high absorption coefficient, mechanical flexibility, and solution-based processing for low-cost solar cells. A bulk heterojunction (BHJ) structure made of donor–acceptor composite can lead to high charge transfer and power conversion efficiency. Active layer morphology is a key factor for device performance. Film formation processes (e.g., spray-coating, spin-coating, and dip-coating), post-treatment (e.g., annealing and UV ozone treatment), and use of additives are typically used to engineer the morphology, which optimizes physical properties, such as molecular configuration, miscibility, lateral and vertical phase separation. We will review electronic donor–acceptor interactions in conjugated polymer composites, the effect of processing parameters and morphology on solar cell performance, and charge carrier transport in polymer solar cells. This review provides the basis for selection of different processing conditions for optimized nanomorphology of active layers and reduced bimolecular recombination to enhance open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, and fill factor of BHJ solar cells.

Improved performance by morphology control via fullerenes in PBDT-TBT-alkoBT based organic solar cells

In this work, we report improved performance by controlling morphology using different fullerene derivatives in poly{2-octyldodecyloxy-benzo[1,2-b;3,4-b]dithiophene-alt-5,6-bis(dodecyloxy)-4,7-di(thieno[3,2-b]thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole} (PBDT-TBT-alkoBT) based organic solar cells. PC60BM and PC70BM fullerenes were used to investigate the characteristic changes in morphology and device performance. Fullerenes affect device efficiency by changing the active layer morphology. PC70BM with broader absorption than PC60BM resulted in reduced device performance which was elucidated by the intermixed granular morphology separating each larger grain in the PC70BM/polymer composite layer which created a higher density of traps. However after adding additive 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO), a fibrous morphology was observed due to the reduced solubility of the polymer and increased solubility of PC70BM in chloroform. The fibrous morphology improved charge transport leading to an increase in overall device performance. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), photo-induced charge extraction by linearly increasing voltage (photo-CELIV), and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) were used to investigate the nanoscale morphology of the active layer with different fullerene derivatives. For the PC60BM based active layer, AFM images revealed a dense fibrous morphology and more distinct fibrous morphology was observed by adding DIO. The PC70BM based active layer only exhibited an intermixed granular morphology instead of a fibrous morphology observed in the PC60BM based active layer. However, addition of DIO into the PC70BM based active layer led to fibrous morphology. When additive DIO was not used, a wider distribution of surface potential was observed for PC70BM than the PC60BM based active layer by KPFM measurements, indicating that polymer and fullerene domains are separated. When DIO was used, a narrower distribution of surface potential for both PC70BM and PC60BM based active layers was observed. Photo-CELIV experiments showed larger extracted charge carrier density and mobility in the PC70BM/DIO film.

Morphological Evolution and Its Impacts on Performance of Polymer Solar Cells

In this paper, the role of fullerene loading on the nanomorphology and photovoltaic performance of alternating copolymer poly{2-octyldodecyloxy-benzo[1,2-b;3,4-b] dithiophene-alt-5,6-bis(dodecyloxy)-4,7bis(thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[c] [1,2,5]-thiadiazole} (PBDT-ABT-1) blend films was investigated. The morphology of blend films with different Phenyl C-60-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) mixing ratios and solvent additives was studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). AFM and EFTEM images showed difference in the intermixing of polymer with fullerene between 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 weight ratios. Polymer/PCBM intermixed domain size increases with higher PCBM weight ratios. X-ray diffraction measurements on the pristine polymer and blend films cast without additives did not show any peaks, suggesting an amorphous nature of PBDT-ABT-1. EFTEM images from the donor/acceptor composite showed intermixed polymer-PCBM domains separated by the polymer boundary. Furthermore, EFTEM images for di-iodooctane (DIO) additive cast film revealed purer polymer domain. Photo-charge extraction by linearly increasing voltage measurement exhibited that charge extraction is highest in the nanomorphology sample with a weight ratio of 1:2, corresponding to the lowest bimolecular recombination and the highest charge carrier mobility.

Optimization of Interconnecting Layers for Double- and Triple-Junction Polymer Solar Cells

In solution-processed tandem polymer solar cells, one of the most challenging parts is the optimization of interconnecting layers (ICLs) between subcells. In this study, ICLs were optimized for double- and triple-junction polymer solar cells. We investigated the robustness of PEDOT:PSS/AZO/PEIE ICL for tandem polymer solar cells. Solvent testing for ICL robustness showed a uniform coverage of the PEDOT:PSS layer when prepared without adding DMSO and IPA in PEDOT:PSS and with no use of additional filters. The performance of tandem polymer solar cells was investigated on different temperatures of interfacial layer. The PEDOT:PSS annealing temperature can be used from 120°C to 130°C, while aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) temperature can be used from 120°C to 150°C. Lowering the annealing temperature in ICLs might help to fabricate triple-junction solar cells because they require more layers, and some low-bandgap polymers cannot sustain high temperature. However, reduction in annealing temperature in PEDOT:PSS, AZO, and PEIE led to lower FF and Jsc. A double-junction device Voc of 1.05 V and a triple-junction Voc of 1.4 V indicated that the ICLs worked effectively.

Lead free CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite thin-film with p-type semiconducting nature and metal-like conductivity

Lead free CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite thin film was prepared by low temperature solution processing and characterized using current sensing atomic force microscopy (CS-AFM). Analysis of electrical, optical, and optoelectrical properties reveals unique p-type semiconducting nature and metal like conductivity of this material. CH3NH3SnI3 film also showed a strong absorption in visible and near infrared spectrum with absorption onset of 1.3 eV. X-ray Diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed a structure of this compound and uniform film formation. The morphology, film uniformity, light harvesting and electrical properties strongly depend on preparation method and precursor solution. CH3NH3SnI3 films prepared based on dimethylformamide (DMF) showed higher crystallinity and light harvesting capability compared to the film based on combination of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). Local photocurrent mapping analysis showed that CH3NH3SnI3 can be used as an active lay...

Shelf life stability comparison in air for solution processed pristine PDPP3T polymer and doped spiro-OMeTAD as hole transport layer for perovskite solar cell

This data in brief includes forward and reverse scanned current density–voltage (J–V) characteristics of perovskite solar cells with PDPP3T and spiro-OMeTAD as HTL, stability testing conditions of perovskite solar cell shelf life in air for both PDPP3T and spiro-OMeTAD as HTL as per the description in Ref. [1], and individual J–V performance parameters acquired with increasing time exposed in ambient air are shown for both type of devices using PDPP3T and spiro-OMeTAD as HTL. The data collected in this study compares the device stability with time for both PDPP3T and spiro-OMeTAD based perovskite solar cells and is directly related to our research article “solution processed pristine PDPP3T polymer as hole transport layer for efficient perovskite solar cells with slower degradation” [2].

Influence of Nanoscale Morphology on Performance of Inverted Structure Metallated Conjugated Polymer Solar Cells

Inverted polymer solar cells (iPSCs) have shown a great potential in organic photovoltaics due to its enhanced stability and large-scale roll-to-roll processing. Metallated conjugated polymers also show promise as a donor material in the PSCs. In this paper, the role of solvents on the performance of inverted structure metallated PSCs was understood. Chlorobenzene (CB) and toluene were used as solvents to obtain the optimum morphology for improved device efficiency. To understand the charge transport properties and charge carrier lifetime in metallated polymer iPSCs, atomic force microscopy and transient photocurrent measurements were performed. The results showed that the CB as a solvent can improve the morphology of the active layer and enhance the performance of metallated iPSCs.