Carrier separation and transport in perovskite solar cells studied by nanometre-scale profiling of electrical potential

Chun-Sheng Jiang (), Mengjin Yang, Yuanyuan Zhou, Bobby To, Sanjini U. Nanayakkara, Joseph M. Luther, Weilie Zhou, Joseph J. Berry, Jao van de Lagemaat, Nitin P. Padture, Kai Zhu () and Mowafak M. Al-Jassim
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Chun-Sheng Jiang: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Mengjin Yang: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Yuanyuan Zhou: School of Engineering, Brown University
Bobby To: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Sanjini U. Nanayakkara: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Joseph M. Luther: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Weilie Zhou: Advanced Materials Research Institute, University of New Orleans
Joseph J. Berry: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Jao van de Lagemaat: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Nitin P. Padture: School of Engineering, Brown University
Kai Zhu: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Mowafak M. Al-Jassim: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Organometal–halide perovskite solar cells have greatly improved in just a few years to a power conversion efficiency exceeding 20%. This technology shows unprecedented promise for terawatt-scale deployment of solar energy because of its low-cost, solution-based processing and earth-abundant materials. We have studied charge separation and transport in perovskite solar cells—which are the fundamental mechanisms of device operation and critical factors for power output—by determining the junction structure across the device using the nanoelectrical characterization technique of Kelvin probe force microscopy. The distribution of electrical potential across both planar and porous devices demonstrates p–n junction structure at the TiO2/perovskite interfaces and minority-carrier diffusion/drift operation of the devices, rather than the operation mechanism of either an excitonic cell or a p-i-n structure. Combining the potential profiling results with solar cell performance parameters measured on optimized and thickened devices, we find that carrier mobility is a main factor that needs to be improved for further gains in efficiency of the perovskite solar cells.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9397

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