Thermal Stable Perovskite Solar Cells Improved by ZnO/Graphene Oxide as Electron Transfer Layers

doi:10.15541/jim20160218

Abstract

Abstract:

ZnO/graphene oxide (GO) nano-particles (NPs) layer was prepared using a facile solution process and employed as an electron conductor to improve the thermal stability of perovskite solar cells. Structural changes during the degradation process in high temperature environment were characterized via in situ grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. The optical properties and surface morphologies of the films were characterized. It was observed that smooth and compact structure of ZnO/GO layer works as a protection layer to prevent decomposition of perovskite film which is converted into PbI₂ during the annealing process reaction. The perovskite film grown on ZnO/GO layer exhibited enhanced crystallization, high surface coverage ratio as well as preferred in-plane orientation of the (110) plane.

Key words: GIXRD, ZnO/GO, perovskite, ETL (electron transfer layers)

CLC Number:

TQ174

JIANG Wen-Long, ZHOU Wei, YING Ji-Fei, YANG Tie-Ying, GAO Yan-Min. Thermal Stable Perovskite Solar Cells Improved by ZnO/Graphene Oxide as Electron Transfer Layers[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2017, 32(1): 96-100.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 XRD patterns of GO and ZnO/GO films

Fig. 2 (a) UV-Vis absorption and (b) TEM images of ZnO/GO films and ZnO film. (c) Top-view SEM image and (d) AFM image of ZnO/GO films

Fig. 3(a) is the diffraction pattern of the CH3NH3PbI3 film deposited on ZnO/GO after heating at 100℃ in air for 2 min, which reveals that the film is polycrystalline with preferred in-plane orientation of the (110) plane. The strong and sharp (110) peaks imply that the films possess good crystallization and large crystal size. When the film was heated to 100℃ for 15 min (Fig. 3(b)), a new feature at q≈9 nm-1 appeared, which is consistent with reflection from the (001) planes of PbI2 (PDF#07-0235), but the ring is not so clear, indicating that just a little amout of CH3NH3PbI3 decomposed after 20 min. Yang[7] studied the CH3NH3PbI3 film deposited on ZnO, suggesting that after 13 min of heating at 100℃, the perovskite decomposes into PbI2 in a single step. Herein, it can be concluded perovskite structure on the ZnO/GO showed a higher stability than it on ZnO. According to Fig. 3(c), it can be found that, after 30 min, the perovskite (110) feature still exsist clearly. These data show that after 15 min of heating at 100℃, only small part of CH3NH3PbI3 decomposes into PbI2, consistent with the result we indicated above.

Fig. 3 2D GIXRD patterns of ITO/(ZnO/GO)/CH3NH3PbI3 film after heating at 100℃ in air for 2 min (a), 15 min (b), and 30 min (c)

Table 1 Photovoltaic parameters of solar cells with different ETL

ETL	Ј_SC/(mA•cm^-2)	V_oc/V	FF	η/%
TiO₂	17.06	0.79	0.75	10.24
ZnO	13.71	0.92	0.72	9.08
ZnO/GO	18.30	1.00	0.51	9.31

Fig. 4 Stability of the devices based on ZnO NPs and ZnO/GO NPs in an ambient environment after encapsulation using UV- epoxy

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