Publication date: 4th October 2024
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising next-generation photovoltaic technology due to their tunable band gap, low-temperature processing, and high power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, uniform self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coverage on transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) is essential for optimizing performance. [1] Non- uniform SAM coverage can lead to surface recombination, higher leakage currents, and reduced efficiency. This study introduces Cooled Moisture Condensation (CMC), a low-cost, air-processible method for enhancing SAM coverage on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. [2] By cooling the FTO in ambient air, moisture uniformly condenses, increasing surface hydroxyl (-OH) groups and reducing oxygen vacancies. This process improves SAM bonding and coverage. Characterization using Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy (C-AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirms better SAM uniformity, reduced leakage currents, and higher-quality perovskite films. Capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements indicate a higher built-in potential (Vbi), while open-circuit voltage decay (OCVD) and transient photocurrent decay (TPC) analyses show enhanced charge extraction and reduced recombination. Fabricated with CMC-treated substrates demonstrate superior efficiency and reproducibility, highlighting the potential of this scalable method for high-performance solar cell production.
We acknowledge support from the National Science and Technology Council (110- 2222-E-005-005-MY3, 113-2628-E-005-001, 113-2218-E-007-012), and Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture and Innovative Center on Sustainable Negative-Carbon Resources from The Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Project by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan.