journal article·2021-09-01Open access

A study of the effects of a thermally evaporated nanoscale CsBr layer on the optoelectronic properties and stability of formamidinium-rich perovskite solar cells

Richard K. Koech, Reisya Ichwani, Julia L. Martin, Deborah O. Oyewole, Omolara V. Oyelade, Yusuf A. Olanrewaju, Dahiru M. Sanni, Sharafadeen A. Adeniji, Ronald L. Grimm, Abdulhakeem Bello, Oluwaseun K. Oyewole, Esidor Ntsoenzok, Winston O. Soboyejo

AIP Advances· Volume 11· Issue 9

Abstract

Incorporation of cesium (Cs) into the perovskite layer has become a good strategy to boost the stability and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, a suitable and scalable method of Cs incorporation in a perovskite film that does not cause a significant increase in the optical bandgap is needed. In this paper, we introduce a thin layer of CsBr into a formamidinium (FA)-rich mixed halide perovskite film using the thermal evaporation technique. The effects of the thickness of the CsBr layer on the microstructural, structural, and optoelectronic properties and surface chemical states of the perovskite film are then studied. The results indicate that the CsBr layer thickness is able to tune the microstructural and optoelectronic properties of the perovskite film. Planar PSCs fabricated with different thicknesses of CsBr layers in the perovskite absorber exhibited different photovoltaic performance characteristics. The CsBr-modified PSC device with a 50 nm layer of CsBr in the perovskite layer showed a better PCE of 16.19% ± 0.17%, which was about 15% higher than that of the control device, and was able to retain nearly 70% of its initial PCE value after 120 days of storage in an unencapsulated state.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Perovskite Materials and Applications · Solid-state spectroscopy and crystallography · Conducting polymers and applications

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

Affiliations

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology 1 , P.M.B. 681, Garki-Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute 2 , 100 Institute Road, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, USA

Department of Mathematic, Physics and Computing, Moi University 3 , P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Life Science and Engineering Center, Worcester Polytechnic Institute 4 , 100 Institute Road, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, USA

Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute 5 , 100 Institute Road, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, USA

Department of Theoretical and Applied Physics, African University of Science and Technology 6 , P.M.B. 681, Garki-Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

CEMHTI-CNRS Site Cyclotron 7 , 3A rue de la férollerie, 45071 Orléans, France

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Gateway Park Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center 8 , 60 Prescott Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, USA

Funding

World Bank Group · PASET-RSIF · Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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