Sahaya Dennish Babu George , Karthikeyan Nagarajan , Ayeshamariam Abbas Ali , Swetha Madamala , Dhinesh Subramanian , Sarojini Kuppamuthu , Judith Jayarani Arockiasamy
{"title":"Morphology-optimized ZnSnO3 nanopentagons as efficient electron transport layers for high-efficient perovskite solar cells","authors":"Sahaya Dennish Babu George , Karthikeyan Nagarajan , Ayeshamariam Abbas Ali , Swetha Madamala , Dhinesh Subramanian , Sarojini Kuppamuthu , Judith Jayarani Arockiasamy","doi":"10.1016/j.jssc.2025.125322","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ternary metal oxides with high optical transparency and wide bandgap semiconductors have gained significant attention as promising candidates for various optoelectronic device applications. In this study, ZnSnO<sub>3</sub> nanomaterials, synthesized in distinct nanopentagon and spherical nanoparticle morphologies, were prepared using hydrothermal and microwave-assisted synthesis methods. Structural analysis through X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the perovskite phase of ZnSnO<sub>3</sub>. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed distinct morphological variations, while Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) mapping validated the stoichiometric composition. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) further confirmed the oxidation states of Zn<sup>2+</sup>, Sn<sup>4+</sup>, and O<sup>2−</sup>. Optical studies from Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) revealed bandgap values of 3.64 eV and 3.66 eV for ZnSnO<sub>3</sub> synthesized via hydrothermal and microwave methods, respectively. To evaluate their performance in optoelectronic applications, ZnSnO<sub>3</sub>-based electron transport layers (ETLs) were incorporated into an FTO/ZnSnO<sub>3</sub>/CH<sub>3</sub>NH<sub>3</sub>PbI<sub>3</sub>/Spiro-MeOTAD/Au perovskite solar cell architecture. Notably, hydrothermally synthesized ZnSnO<sub>3</sub> nanopentagon ETLs achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.73 %, outperforming the 14.28 % PCE obtained with microwave-synthesized spherical nanoparticles. This study underscores the potential of ZnSnO<sub>3</sub>-based ETLs for highly efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs), emphasizing the impact of synthesis methods on device performance. By demonstrating the viability of ZnSnO<sub>3</sub> nanomaterials in advanced optoelectronic applications, this work lays the groundwork for further optimization and development of high-performance devices leveraging ternary metal oxides.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":378,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Solid State Chemistry","volume":"347 ","pages":"Article 125322"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Solid State Chemistry","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022459625001458","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, INORGANIC & NUCLEAR","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Ternary metal oxides with high optical transparency and wide bandgap semiconductors have gained significant attention as promising candidates for various optoelectronic device applications. In this study, ZnSnO3 nanomaterials, synthesized in distinct nanopentagon and spherical nanoparticle morphologies, were prepared using hydrothermal and microwave-assisted synthesis methods. Structural analysis through X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the perovskite phase of ZnSnO3. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed distinct morphological variations, while Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) mapping validated the stoichiometric composition. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) further confirmed the oxidation states of Zn2+, Sn4+, and O2−. Optical studies from Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) revealed bandgap values of 3.64 eV and 3.66 eV for ZnSnO3 synthesized via hydrothermal and microwave methods, respectively. To evaluate their performance in optoelectronic applications, ZnSnO3-based electron transport layers (ETLs) were incorporated into an FTO/ZnSnO3/CH3NH3PbI3/Spiro-MeOTAD/Au perovskite solar cell architecture. Notably, hydrothermally synthesized ZnSnO3 nanopentagon ETLs achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.73 %, outperforming the 14.28 % PCE obtained with microwave-synthesized spherical nanoparticles. This study underscores the potential of ZnSnO3-based ETLs for highly efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs), emphasizing the impact of synthesis methods on device performance. By demonstrating the viability of ZnSnO3 nanomaterials in advanced optoelectronic applications, this work lays the groundwork for further optimization and development of high-performance devices leveraging ternary metal oxides.
期刊介绍:
Covering major developments in the field of solid state chemistry and related areas such as ceramics and amorphous materials, the Journal of Solid State Chemistry features studies of chemical, structural, thermodynamic, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties and processes in solids.