Solvothermal synthesis of highly crystalline SnO2 nanoparticles for flexible perovskite solar cells application

Flexible perovskite solar cells are arising researchers' attentions due to their promising potential applications. In this letter, homogeneous and highly crystalline SnO2 nanoparticles are successfully synthesized by a solvothermal method, which are then employed to deposit high quality electron transport layers by spin coating and baking at a temperature as low as 150 degrees C. The prepared SnO2 layer has a homogenous and flat surface without any pinholes. The resulting flexible perovskite solar cell shows a high power conversion efficiency of 13.90%, which is mainly attributed to the good transmittance, efficient electron extraction and hole blocking ability of the SnO2 electron transport layer. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.