Spray Pyrolyzed TiO2 Embedded Multi-Layer Front Contact Design for High-Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells

HighlightsIndustrially viable bottom-up spray pyrolysis deposition technique was used to prepare the highly compact TiO2 film, which is a vital element for the multi-layer front contact.The optimization of the front contact is presented by fabricating reproducible and efficient perovskite solar cellsMulti-layer front contact is applied to realize efficient perovskite single-junction and perovskite/perovskite tandem solar cells, where optics and electrical effects of solar cells are studied by optically coupled 3D electromagnetic simulations. AbstractThe photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) can be improved by utilizing efficient front contact. However, it has always been a significant challenge for fabricating high-quality, scalable, controllable, and cost-effective front contact. This study proposes a realistic multi-layer front contact design to realize efficient single-junction PSCs and perovskite/perovskite tandem solar cells (TSCs). As a critical part of the front contact, we prepared a highly compact titanium oxide (TiO2) film by industrially viable Spray Pyrolysis Deposition (SPD), which acts as a potential electron transport layer (ETL) for the fabrication of PSCs. Optimization and reproducibility of the TiO2 ETL were discreetly investigated while fabricating a set of planar PSCs. As the front contact has a significant influence on the optoelectronic properties of PSCs, hence, we investigated the optics and electrical effects of PSCs by three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) and finite element method (FEM) rigorous simulations. The investigation allows us to compare experimental results with the outcome from simulations. Furthermore, an optimized single-junction PSC is designed to enhance the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) by>30% compared to the planar reference PSC. Finally, the study has been progressed to the realization of all-perovskite TSC that can reach the ECE, exceeding 30%. Detailed guidance for the completion of high-performance PSCs is provided.

Automated summary

An industrially viable bottom-up spray pyrolysis deposition technique was used to prepare a highly compact TiO2 film for the multi-layer front contact optimization in perovskite solar cells. The study presents reproducible and efficient perovskite solar cells with a multi-layer front contact design, and investigates the optics and electrical effects of the cells through optical coupled 3D electromagnetic simulations. The investigation also designs an optimized single-junction perovskite solar cell that can increase the energy conversion efficiency by more than 30% compared to a planar reference cell, and progresses to the realization of all-perovskite tandem solar cells with an energy conversion efficiency exceeding 30%.