Solvent engineering of SnO2 ETL for enhanced performance of carbon-based CsPbIBr2 PSCs

IF 2.3 4区材料科学 Q2 MATERIALS SCIENCE, CERAMICS Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI:10.1007/s10971-025-06680-1

Tianheng Du, Liguo Jin

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Abstract

This study thoroughly investigates the effects of different solvent engineering strategies on the structure and properties of SnO₂ electron transport layers (ETLs) and evaluates their performance-enhancing effects on carbon-based all-inorganic CsPbIBr₂ perovskite solar cells (PSCs). By comparing the SnO₂ ETLs prepared with ethanol (ET-SnO₂) and isopropanol (IPA-SnO₂) solvents and constructing corresponding CsPbIBr₂ PSCs devices, we comprehensively analysed the structure, morphology, wettability, light transmittance and electronic transport properties of the SnO₂ ETLs using characterization methods such as XRD, SEM, contact angle measurement, transmission spectroscopy, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Combined with the J-V characteristics of the device, we revealed the mechanism of the effect of solvent engineering on the performance of PSCs. The results showed that IPA-SnO₂ exhibited better performance with lower contact angle and higher compactness, which is conducive to electron transport and reduces interfacial defects. IPA-SnO₂ also promoted the growth of CsPbIBr₂ crystals, forming larger and denser crystal structures and reducing pinhole defects. In addition, IPA-SnO₂ improves the light transmittance of the FTO substrate and the light absorption of the CsPbIBr₂ film, thereby increasing the light trapping efficiency. Finally, the IPA-SnO₂-based PSCs achieved a PCE of 5.95%, an improvement of 25% compared to ET-SnO₂, demonstrating good application prospects. This study provides an important experimental basis for optimizing the preparation process of SnO₂ ETL and improving the performance of carbon-based CsPbIBr₂ PSCs.

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来源期刊

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology 工程技术-材料科学：硅酸盐

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

4.00%

发文量

280

审稿时长

2.1 months

期刊介绍： The primary objective of the Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology (JSST), the official journal of the International Sol-Gel Society, is to provide an international forum for the dissemination of scientific, technological, and general knowledge about materials processed by chemical nanotechnologies known as the "sol-gel" process. The materials of interest include gels, gel-derived glasses, ceramics in form of nano- and micro-powders, bulk, fibres, thin films and coatings as well as more recent materials such as hybrid organic-inorganic materials and composites. Such materials exhibit a wide range of optical, electronic, magnetic, chemical, environmental, and biomedical properties and functionalities. Methods for producing sol-gel-derived materials and the industrial uses of these materials are also of great interest.