Synthesis of Perovskite Film by Using Lead Nitrate as Precursor for Perovskite Solar Cell Applications

• Published in: Materials today : proceedings Vol. 17; pp. 1224 - 1230
• Main Authors: Pothiklang, Chanatpong, Hongsith, Kritsada, Ruankham, Pipat, SupabChoopun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2019
• Subjects: free-toxic solvent; Lead nitrate; Pb(NO3)2; perovskite solar cell; free-toxic solvent; perovskite solar cell; Lead nitrate; Pb(NO3)2
• ISSN: 2214-7853; 2214-7853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2019.06.002

Perovskite film is normally synthesized from lead iodide (PbI2) and methyl ammonium iodide (MAI, CH3NH3I) to form CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite film in p-i-n perovskite solar cell. However, PbI2 is difficultly dissolved for fabrication process. Lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2) is considered as one alternative material that can be used to synthesize perovskite film with some advantages such as low cost material, non-toxic solvent requirement and water dissolvable. Thus, this study aims to synthesize perovskite film by using Pb(NO3)2 and MAI as stating materials. Spin coating method was used to deposit perovskite precursor for p-i-n perovskite solar cell fabrication. The crystal structure, surface morphology and optical property of perovskite film were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and UV-visible spectroscopy, respectively. For solar cell applications, the perovskite solar cell fabricated with Pb(NO3)2 showed lower performance than with PbI2. The low performance was resulted from the incomplete formation of perovskite film due to effects of pinhole and non-smooth film surface. However, this work demonstrated that Pb(NO3)2 has possibility to use as starting material for perovskite solar cell fabrication with non-toxic solvent process. To improve solar cell performance, perovskite film synthesized from Pb(NO3)2 should be further investigated.