article · Advanced Energy Materials
Carbon-based electrodes offer a route to improve the stability and scalability of perovskite solar cells. The temperature used to process these contacts determines the crystal grain size within the perovskite absorber layer. High-temperature carbon-based cells restrict crystal sizes to between 10 and 20 nanometres, causing severe non-radiative energy losses linked to numerous grain boundaries. Conversely, low-temperature carbon-based cells support layer-by-layer deposition with crystal grains exceeding 100 nanometres. These larger crystals achieve a long carrier lifetime of 1.8 microseconds and high quasi-Fermi level splitting, yielding an open-circuit voltage exceeding 1.1 volts even without a hole-selective layer. Despite these benefits, low-temperature designs face limitations from low photon absorption and weak charge transport. Targeted approaches are outlined to address transport and non-radiative deficits, whilst enhancing photon management across both solar cell configurations to boost overall power conversion efficiency.
Perovskite photovoltaics offer great potential for next-generation solar energy, but manufacturing them reliably and efficiently remains difficult. Using carbon-based electrodes can enhance device stability and simplify manufacturing scale-up. Pinpointing the exact trade-offs between processing temperatures, crystal sizes, and electrical losses helps solar cell developers design higher-efficiency devices with fewer costly layers.
This early-stage research provides diagnostic insights and performance enhancement strategies for developers of perovskite photovoltaics. By identifying the root causes of efficiency loss in both low-temperature and high-temperature carbon electrode manufacturing, the findings can inform solar technology developers seeking to scale up stable, lower-cost panels without expensive hole-transporting layers. However, the work remains at the laboratory stage, focusing on loss quantification and device design principles rather than a market-ready solar module.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Abstract Carbon‐based electrodes represent a promising approach to improve stability and up‐scalability of perovskite photovoltaics. The temperature at which these contacts are processed defines the absorber grain size of the perovskite solar cell: in cells with low‐temperature carbon‐based electrodes (L‐CPSCs), layer‐by‐layer deposition is possible, allowing perovskite crystals to be large (>100 nm), while in cells with high‐temperature carbon‐based contacts (H‐CPSCs), crystals are constrained to 10–20 nm in size. To enhance the power conversion efficiency of these devices, the main loss mechanisms are identified for both systems. Measurements of charge carrier lifetime, quasi‐Fermi level splitting (QFLS) and light‐intensity‐dependent behavior, supported by numerical simulations, clearly demonstrate that H‐CPSCs strongly suffer from non‐radiative losses in the perovskite absorber, primarily due to numerous grain boundaries. In contrast, large crystals of L‐CPSCs provide a long carrier lifetime (1.8 µs) and exceptionally high QFLS of 1.21 eV for an absorber bandgap of 1.6 eV. These favorable characteristics explain the remarkable open‐circuit voltage of over 1.1 V in hole‐selective layer‐free L‐CPSCs. However, the low photon absorption and poor charge transport in these cells limit their potential. Finally, effective strategies are provided to reduce non‐radiative losses in H‐CPSCs, transport losses in L‐CPSCs, and to improve photon management in both cell types.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202103128
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
