Size-controlled SiO2 nanoparticles as scaffold layers in thin-film perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Perovskite-based solar cells have received much recent research attention for renewable-energy applications because of their high efficiency and long-term stability. Here, we report perovskite solar cells formed using a scaffold layer composed of size-controlled SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs). The infiltration of perovskite into the scaffold layer depended strongly on the size of the SiO₂ NPs. We investigated the effects of scaffold layers comprised of SiO₂ NPs that were 15, 30, 50, 70, and 100 nm in diameter on the properties of perovskite films. The performance of perovskite solar cells based on 50 nm diameter SiO₂ NPs exhibited a current density (J_sc) of 16.4 mA cm⁻², a open-circuit voltage (V_oc) of 1.05 V, and a power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.45%, which represent a significant improvement compared with perovskite solar cells fabricated using a TiO₂ scaffold layer, where J_sc = 17.3 mA cm⁻², V_oc = 0.94 V, and the PCE was 10.29%.