An inverted BiI3/PCBM binary quasi-bulk heterojunction solar cell with a power conversion efficiency of 1.50%. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kang, Jian; Chen, Shan; Zhao, Xiaole; Yin, Huajie; Zhang, Weiping; Al-Mamun, Mohammad; Liu, Porun; Wang, Yun; Zhao, Huijun
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 73(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: BiI3 -- Exciton separation -- Electron acceptor -- Quasi-bulk heterojunction -- Solar cells; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104799
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: The use of toxic Pb hinders the widespread applications of lead halide perovskite solar cells, sparking an upsurge effort to develop lead-free solar cells. This work reports a facile low-temperature solution processed bismuth triiodide (BiI3 )/[6, 6]-phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) binary quasi-bulk heterojunction (BQ-BH) solar cell. The BiI3 and PCBM layers are innovatively utilized as the electron donor and acceptor to form a BQ-BH that promotes the separation of the excitons. The effective separation of excitons at the BiI3 /PCBM BQ-BH is experimentally confirmed by the Kelvin probe force microscopy. An optimized inverted BiI3 /PCBM BQ-BH solar cell can achieve a champion power conversion efficiency of 1.50% with a record short-circuit current density of 8.76 mA cm −2 . The findings of this work confirm that the separation of excitons can be effectively promoted by inducing a suitable electron donor/acceptor type of BQ-BH, providing a new means to enhance the performance of BiI3 -based solar cells. Graphical abstract: An inverted bismuth triiodide (BiI3 )/[6, 6]-phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) binary quasi-bulk heterojunction (BQ-BH) solar cell is reported. The BiI3 and PCBM layers are innovatively utilized as the electron donor and acceptor to form a BQ-BH that effectively promotes the dissociation of the excitons, leading to a champion efficiency of 1.50% with a record short-circuit current density of 8.76 mA cm −2 . Image 1 Highlights: An inverted BiI3 /PCBM binary quasi-bulk heterojunction (BQ-BH) solar cell is fabricated via a facile solution approach. The BQ-BH concept is proposed to facilitate the separation of excitons of BiI3 and experimentally validated by KPFM. The optimized BiI3 /PCBM BQ-BH solar cell can afford a champion PCE of 1.50% with a record J sc of 8.76 mA cm -2 .