journal article·2022-11-30

Molecularly Functionalized SnO2 Films by Carboxylic Acids for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

Tianqi Niu, Fuchao Zhen, Yue-Min Xie, Tinghuan Yang, Qin Yao, Jing Lu, Kui Zhao, Hin-Lap Yip

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces· Volume 14· Issue 47
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Abstract

Metal oxides are commonly employed as electron transport layers (ETLs) for n-i-p perovskite solar cells (PSCs), but the presence of surface traps and their mismatched energy alignment with perovskites limits the corresponding device performance. Therefore, the interfacial modification of ETLs by functional molecules becomes an important strategy for tailoring the interfacial properties and facilitating an efficient charge extraction and transport in PSCs. However, an in-depth understanding of the influences of their molecular structures on the surface chemistry and electronic properties of ETLs is rarely discussed. Herein, three carboxylic acid-based molecules with different chemical structures were employed to modify the SnO2 ETL and their effects on the performance of PSCs were systematically investigated. We found that the alkyl-chain length and carboxyl number in molecular structures can dramatically alter their binding strength to SnO2, providing a good strategy to fine-tune their film quality, electron mobility, and energy offset at the cathode interface. Benefiting from the optimal coordination ability of citric acid (CA) to SnO2, the corresponding PSCs show better charge transport properties and suppressed nonradiative recombination, leading to a champion efficiency of 23.1% with much improved environmental stability, highlighting the potential of rational design of molecular modifiers for high-performance ETLs applied in PSCs.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Perovskite Materials and Applications · Conducting polymers and applications · Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou510640, P. R. China

Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou215123, Jiangsu, PR China

Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Advanced Energy Devices, Shaanxi Engineering Lab for Advanced Energy Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an710119, China

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon999077, Hong Kong

School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon999077, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon999077, Hong Kong

Funding

Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology · Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China · Hong Kong Government · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Higher Education Discipline Innovation Project · Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Nano and Soft Materials · Green Tech Fund · Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research

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