Fabrication & Characterization of an Effective Electron Transport Layer for Perovskite Solar Cells /

Abstract

With the expanding need for energy production and the collateral damage caused by the emissions released as a consequence of conventional energy producing technologies, there is a constant search for an alternative means of fulfilling global energy requirements. Owing to the vigorous research and rapid advancements, many new types of semiconducting photovoltaic materials have been developed in addition to the old-fashioned Silicon based solar cells. PV technologies are divided into three generations. Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) so far the highest Power conversion efficiency achievers at research level, are prior most candidates for solar energy. This research is aimed to fabricate and characterize low temperature processed Electron transport layer (ETL) for PSCs. Three different ETLs were deposited on the Fluorine doped Tin oxide glass. The aim was achieved by using sol-gel and solution processing technique and we got good results. This work was considered to discover the potential of a suitable electron transport layer. First of all the nanoparticles of the desired material was synthesized using co-precipitation technique, characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) to study the crystal structure and morphological properties. Furthermore the thin film technology used to fabricate the ETLs, was spin-coating and films were characterized using XRD technique, SEM, EDX, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, optical Microscopy and hall Effect. As an additional task, to obtain the efficiency results via IV curve tracer, the device fabrication was also performed for all the ETLs fabricated. The hole transport layer was fabricated via thermal evaporation. The light harvesting absorber layers were fabricated via spin coating and later dip coating inside the glove box for better sustainability of the PSCs.. The contact deposition was done for optimization samples using a physical Vapor deposition system. Hence the whole device fabrication was processed but no good results were achieved. But the task of complete device is being recommended by using better absorber layer and hence efficient PSCs to be tested.