TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding the Space-Charge Layer in SnO2for Enhanced Electron Extraction in Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells
AU - Youn, Sarah Su O.
AU - Kim, Jihyun
AU - Na, Junhong
AU - Jo, William
AU - Kim, Gee Yeong
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2018R1A6A1A03025340) and Ministry of Science, Technology, ICT, and Future Planning (NRF-2021R1A2B5B02001961). This research was supported by Technology Development Program to Solve Climate Changes through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (2019M1A2A2072412) and KIST Institutional Program (Project No. 2V09352).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/10/26
Y1 - 2022/10/26
N2 - Tin oxide (SnO2) has been widely used as an n-type metal oxide electron transport layer in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) owing to its superior electrical and optical properties and low-temperature synthesis process. In particular, the interfacial effect between indium tin oxide (ITO) and SnO2is an important parameter that controls the charge transport properties and device performance of the PSCs. Therefore, understanding the interfacial effect of ITO/SnO2and its role in PSCs is crucial, but it is not studied intensively. Herein, we investigated the space-charge effect at the interface of ITO/SnO2using transfer length measurement and conductive atomic force microscopy as a function of SnO2thickness. Moreover, optical, morphologic, and device measurements were performed to determine the optimal SnO2thickness for PSCs. The space-charge effect was identified in ITO/SnO2when the SnO2layer was very thin due to electron depletion near the interface. Interestingly, a critical kink point was observed at approximately 10 nm SnO2thickness, indicating the electron depletion and weak charge transfer behavior of the device. Thus, a thickness around 20 nm was favorable for the best PSC performance because charge transport behavior in the thin SnO2layer was depressed by electron depletion. However, when the thickness of SnO2exceeded 50 nm, the device performance deteriorated due to increased series resistance. This study provides a strategy to tune the electron transport layer and boost the charge transport behavior in PSCs, making important contributions to optimizing SnO2-based PSCs.
AB - Tin oxide (SnO2) has been widely used as an n-type metal oxide electron transport layer in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) owing to its superior electrical and optical properties and low-temperature synthesis process. In particular, the interfacial effect between indium tin oxide (ITO) and SnO2is an important parameter that controls the charge transport properties and device performance of the PSCs. Therefore, understanding the interfacial effect of ITO/SnO2and its role in PSCs is crucial, but it is not studied intensively. Herein, we investigated the space-charge effect at the interface of ITO/SnO2using transfer length measurement and conductive atomic force microscopy as a function of SnO2thickness. Moreover, optical, morphologic, and device measurements were performed to determine the optimal SnO2thickness for PSCs. The space-charge effect was identified in ITO/SnO2when the SnO2layer was very thin due to electron depletion near the interface. Interestingly, a critical kink point was observed at approximately 10 nm SnO2thickness, indicating the electron depletion and weak charge transfer behavior of the device. Thus, a thickness around 20 nm was favorable for the best PSC performance because charge transport behavior in the thin SnO2layer was depressed by electron depletion. However, when the thickness of SnO2exceeded 50 nm, the device performance deteriorated due to increased series resistance. This study provides a strategy to tune the electron transport layer and boost the charge transport behavior in PSCs, making important contributions to optimizing SnO2-based PSCs.
KW - electron depletion
KW - interface
KW - ITO
KW - lead halide perovskite
KW - perovskite solar cell
KW - SnO
KW - space-charge layer
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85139986205&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acsami.2c12461
DO - 10.1021/acsami.2c12461
M3 - Article
C2 - 36223089
AN - SCOPUS:85139986205
SN - 1944-8244
VL - 14
SP - 48229
EP - 48239
JO - ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
JF - ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
IS - 42
ER -