Effect of Plasmonic Ag Nanoparticles on the Performance of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells. Issue 3 (8th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ali, Azmat; Kang, Ju Hwan; Seo, Jung Hwa; Walker, Bright
• Is Part Of: Advanced engineering materials. Volume 22:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-11-08
• Subjects: Ag crescents and power conversion efficiency -- Ag nanoparticles -- perovskite solar cells; Materials -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adem.201900976
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1438-1656

Abstract

Abstract : Recently, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted phenomenal research interest due to their potential as the next‐generation photovoltaics. Despite rapid development in this field, further increasing their power conversion efficiency (PCE) remains a critical issue for the commercialization of PSCs. Herein, the application of Ag nanoparticle (NP) layers via vapor‐phase deposition onto perovskite active layers is investigated. The formation of unique, crescent‐shaped Ag NPs is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which shows that the NPs self‐assemble along the grain boundaries of perovskite, leading to their unique shape. The PCE for devices incorporating an optimized size of Ag NPs of 79 ± 6 nm increase from 11.63% to 13.46% with an improvement factor of 15.74%. The increase in PCE is can be attributed to an increase in short‐circuit current density ( J sc ) that is assigned to an increase in optical path length and absorption. NPs exhibit the ability to increase the optical path length of photons in the device due to the near‐field and far‐field enhancement (plasmonic scattering) and consequently may act to improve the photon‐to‐electron conversion efficiency (ΔIPCE) and PCE of PSCs. Moreover, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy reveals a decrease in hole injection barrier ( ϕ h ), which also contributes to enhanced performance. Abstract : This article provides a comprehensive understanding and exploration of unique crescent‐shaped Ag nanoparticles obtained by simple thermal evaporation of Ag. The perovskite grain boundaries direct the self‐assembly of Ag atoms into this kind of unique shape. Enhancement in absorption by Ag nanoparticles is observed, which considerably increase the short‐circuit current and thereby power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells.