Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells Employing a Cerium Oxide Passivation Layer

• Published in: The Korean journal of chemical engineering Vol. 41; no. 14; pp. 3813 - 3820
• Main Authors: Choi, In, Koo, Bonkee, Yu, Subin, Kim, Wooyeon, Ko, Min Jae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2024; Springer Nature B.V; 한국화학공학회
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Catalysis; Cerium oxides; Charge transfer; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Crystal defects; Electric fields; Electron transport; Energy conversion efficiency; Grain boundaries; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Interface stability; Materials Science; Metal halides; Optoelectronics; Original Article; Passivity; Perovskites; Photovoltaic cells; Solar cells; Thin films; 화학공학; Perovskite solar cell; Built-in electric field; Cerium oxide; Charge extraction; Passivation layer
• ISSN: 0256-1115; 1975-7220
• DOI: 10.1007/s11814-024-00333-9

Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.7%, establishing them as strong candidates for next-generation solar cell technology owing to their unique optoelectronic properties and solution processability. However, defects at grain boundaries and interfaces within the perovskite layer limit both stability and performance. Therefore, this study aims to mitigate these challenges by introducing a thin layer of amorphous cerium oxide (CeO x ) as an inorganic passivation layer, offering advantages over conventional organic passivation layers. A thin amorphous CeO x passivation layer enhances the built-in electric field in the perovskite, improving charge transfer without the increased resistance of thick layers generally used as electron transport layers (ETLs). This approach yielded an inverted PSC with a PCE of 19.30%, securing high performance with photostability. This result highlights the potential of thin CeO x passivation to enhance the efficiency and stability of PSCs.