A novel excess ligand strategy in the chemical bath deposition of tin oxide (SnO₂) has been introduced, aiming to enhance the efficiency of perovskite solar cells by addressing traditional CBD method limitations.
The method suppresses the cluster-by-cluster pathway, promoting ion-by-ion growth and resulting in highly uniform, low-defect SnO₂ thin films with improved optoelectronic properties.
Surface recombination velocity is significantly reduced to 5.5 cm/s, showcasing the effectiveness of the excess ligand strategy in passivating surface states and minimizing trap-assisted recombination.
The SnO₂ electron-transport layers demonstrate exceptional electroluminescence efficiency of 24.8% while contributing to charge extraction and recombination suppression for enhanced device stability.
Perovskite solar cells utilizing this strategy achieved a high power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.4%, supporting scalability for commercial-level fabrication.
The method's versatility is highlighted by its compatibility with carbon-based perovskite cells, reaching an efficiency of 23.1% in solar modules, showcasing potential market impact and broader device applicability.
The excess ligand approach manipulates ligand content to control nucleation pathways, offering potential advancements in oxide semiconductor fabrication beyond SnO₂ for improved electron-transport layers.
The rapid deposition and improved film quality of the excess ligand method lead to cost savings, higher throughput, and enhanced scalability in manufacturing solar cells.
This research not only enhances perovskite solar cell performance but also addresses stability and efficiency challenges, paving the way for commercial viability and broader adoption of this renewable energy technology.
The excess ligand CBD method could facilitate the production of flexible, lightweight solar modules with low manufacturing costs, accelerating the deployment of perovskite-based photovoltaics in large-scale energy projects.
With record-setting efficiencies and scalable production capabilities, this advancement signifies a significant step towards bridging research innovations with practical applications in the sustainable energy sector.