Eng Liang Lim

A review of organic small molecule-based hole-transporting materials for meso-structured organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells

This review summarizes the current designs and development of new types of organic small molecules as a hole-transporting material (HTM) in a meso-structured perovskite solar cell (PSC). The roles of each layer in the meso-structured perovskite device architecture are elaborated and the employment of new types of organic HTMs in the device is compared with the commercially available HTM spiro-OMeTAD in terms of the properties, device performance and stability. The studies found that nearly half of the new synthesized and pristine HTMs have comparable or better photovoltaic properties than those of doped spiro-OMeTAD. These HTMs have the characteristics of a fused planar core structure with extended π-conjugated lengths and electron-donating functional groups, which are believed to contribute to their high intrinsic conductivity and help make them an alternative to spiro-OMeTAD as a better HTM in meso-structured PSCs. Some of the devices based on the new synthesized HTMs even have longer device lifetimes than their spiro-OMeTAD-based PSC counterparts. Moreover, studies found that the cost per gram (Cg) and cost-per-peak Watt (Cw) of synthesized HTMs can be reduced via minimizing the number of synthesis steps and by optimization of the starting materials in order to yield low-cost HTMs for meso-structured PSC applications.

Enhancement of ZnO nanorod arrays-based inverted type hybrid organic solar cell using spin-coated Eosin-Y

This paper reports the effect of Eosin-Y coating concentration on the performance of inverted type hybrid organic solar cell based on ZnO nanorod arrays and poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT). The Eosin-Y solution with concentrations of 0.05, 0.2, 2.0 and 5.0 mM was spin-coated onto the ZnO nanorod arrays grown on the fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrate. The P3HT film was then spin-coated onto Eosin-Y-coated ZnO nanorod arrays, followed by deposition of silver (Ag) as anode using magnetron sputtering technique. The short circuit current density increased with the Eosin-Y coating concentration up to 0.2 mM, after which it started to decrease, mainly due to the aggregation of Eosin-Y which reduced the charge extraction from P3HT to ZnO. Meanwhile, the open circuit voltage increased with the Eosin-Y coating concentration, indicating reduced back charge recombination of electron on the ZnO and hole on the P3HT, as well as reduced leakage current through the direct contact between the ZnO nanorods and the Ag metal contact. The power conversion efficiency of the device with the optimum coating concentration was approximately eight times higher than that without Eosin-Y modification.

A Mini Review: Can Graphene Be a Novel Material for Perovskite Solar Cell Applications?

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have raised research interest in scientific community because their power conversion efficiency is comparable to that of traditional commercial solar cells (i.e., amorphous Si, GaAs, and CdTe). Apart from that, PSCs are lightweight, are flexible, and have low production costs. Recently, graphene has been used as a novel material for PSC applications due to its excellent optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. The hydrophobic nature of graphene surface can provide protection against air moisture from the surrounding medium, which can improve the lifetime of devices. Herein, we review recent developments in the use of graphene for PSC applications as a conductive electrode, carrier transporting material, and stabilizer material. By exploring the application of graphene in PSCs, a new class of strategies can be developed to improve the device performance and stability before it can be commercialized in the photovoltaic market in the near future.

The architecture of the electron transport layer for a perovskite solar cell

The emergence of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) recently has brought new hope to the solar cell industry due to their incredible improvement of the power conversion efficiency (PCE), which can now exceed 20.0% within seven years of tremendous research. The efficiency and stability of PSCs depend strongly on the morphology and type of materials selected as the electron transport layer (ETL) in the device. In this review, the functions of the ETL based on titania (TiO2) in n–i–p architecture PSCs, including planar heterojunction and mesoporous-structured devices, are reviewed in terms of the device performance and stability. Studies found that the application of suitable fabrication techniques and manipulation of the nanostructural properties of TiO2 are crucial factors in ameliorating the short-circuit current density, JSC, and fill factor, FF, of PSCs. On top of that, the effect of substituting TiO2 with other potential inorganic materials like zinc oxide (ZnO), tin oxide (SnO2), ternary metal oxides, and metal sulphides, as well as organic semiconductors including fullerene, graphene, and ionic liquids, towards the photovoltaic properties and stability of the devices are also elaborated and discussed. Meanwhile, the utilization of non-electron transport layers (non-ETLs), such as alumina (Al2O3) and zirconia (ZrO2), as the mesoporous scaffold in PSCs is found to enhance the open-circuit voltage, VOC, of the devices.

Performance enhancement of hybrid solar cells via surface modification with diluted P3HT

Surface modification of ZnO nanorods with diluted P3HT in inverted hybrid solar cell was studied. ZnO nanorods were grown on ZnO nanoparticles-coated FTO substrate via chemical bath deposition. 0.2 mM solution of Eosin-Y was spin-coated onto ZnO nanorods at a spinning speed of 1000 rpm for 60 s. Diluted P3HT (0.5 mg/ml) was then coated on ZnO nanorods by using two different methods, namely spin coating and immersion technique. The fabrication process was followed by depositing P3HT from a 25 mg/ml solution. A device without surface modification was also made for comparison. The structure of the devices was FTO / Eosin-Y-coated ZnO nanorods/P3HT/Ag. The optical properties of the samples were investigated and the devices performance was characterized by IV measurement under 100 mW/cm2 simulated AM 1.5G sunlight. It was found that device coated with diluted P3HT via immersion method showed the highest efficiency, followed by without surface modification and that coated with diluted P3HT using spin coating method.

Effect of multiple deposition of NiO layer on the performance of inverted type organic solar cell based on ZnO/P3HT: PCBM

In this work, the effect of multiple deposition of nickel oxide (NiO) hole transport layer (HTL) on the performance of inverted type organic solar cell with a configuration of fluorine tin oxide (FTO)/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods/ poly(3-hexylthiopene):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM)/NiO/silver (Ag) was investigated. The NiO nanoparticles solution was spin-coated on top of the photoactive layer (P3HT:PCBM) prior to deposition of Ag electrode. Different numbers of NiO layers (1, 2, and 4) were deposited on the photoactive layer to obtain the optimum surface morphology of HTL. The device with 2 layers of NiO exhibited the optimum power conversion efficiency of 1.10%. It is believed that the optimum NiO deposition layer gives the complete coverage at photoactive layer and forms ohmic contact between the photoactive layer and Ag electrode.

ZnO Nanorod Arrays Coated with Eosin-Y at Different Concentrations for Inverted Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells

Inverted bulk heterojunction organic solar cells based on vertically aligned dye-coated ZnO nanorods arrays were fabricated. The dye, Eosin-Y was wrapped on ZnO nanorods arrays with dye coating concentration ranging from 0.05 mM to 0.3 mM at room temperature for 1 h. The effects of Eosin-Y solution concentration on the performance of inverted bulk heterojunction organic solar cells based on a blend of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEHPPV) as donor and (6,6)-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as acceptor with a structure of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/Eosin-Y coated ZnO nanorod arrays/MEHPPV:PCBM/Ag were investigated. Length, diameter and morphology of ZnO nanorods arrays were characterized. The optical properties of the Eosin-Y coated ZnO nanorod arrays were investigated and the organic solar cells were characterized by current–voltage measurements under 100 mW/cm2 simulated AM 1.5 G sunlight. It was found that current density, Jsc increased from 0.00134 mA/ cm2 to 0.0162 mA/ cm2 with increase in concentration of Eosin-Y from 0.05 mM to 0.3 mM. Solar cell with 0.3 mM Eosin-Y gave the highest power conversion efficiency, which is 7.15×10-4 %. Short circuit current density was 0.0162 mA/ cm2 and the corresponding open circuit voltage was 0.17 V.