Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials for Energy Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 25048

Special Issue Editors

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: optoelectronic materials and devices; semiconductor nanocrystals; halide perovskite
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: optoelectronic materials and devices; halide perovskite; high-energy radiation detection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to become a cost-effective photovoltaic technology, their efficiency, stability and industrialization are the basic merits to consider. Among these aspects, the working stability can become a large obstacle for the development of PSCs, which is mainly due to the light sensitivity of the device. In the past few years, there have been significant advances in studies on the crystal growth process, photo/moisture/oxygen/heat-induced degradation, performance optimization and the device structure design of perovskite solar cells in terms of both mechanisms and solutions. However, how do environmental factors affect the formation/degradation of the perovskite lattice? Which is more suitable for commercial development, component engineering or pure phase perovskite? How can perovskite devices achieve long-term development in the silicon market? These are currently open questions, as well as hot and timely topics. The present Special Issue on “Perovskite Solar Cells” may become a status report summarizing the progress achieved in the last five years.

Dr. Jing Wei
Dr. Fangze Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • perovskite
  • commercial development
  • interface engineer
  • crystal growth
  • device stability
  • degradation
  • structure design

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 1720 KiB  
Article
Colloidal Synthesis and Ultraviolet Luminescence of Rb2AgI3 Nanocrystals
by Yuan Deng, Yicheng Zeng, Wanying Gu, Pan Huang, Geyu Jin, Fangze Liu, Jing Wei and Hongbo Li
Crystals 2023, 13(7), 1110; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13071110 - 16 Jul 2023
Viewed by 870
Abstract
Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) hold immense potential as luminescent materials for various optoelectronic applications. While significant progress has been made in developing NCs with outstanding optical properties in the visible range, their counterparts emitting in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum are less developed. Rb2 [...] Read more.
Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) hold immense potential as luminescent materials for various optoelectronic applications. While significant progress has been made in developing NCs with outstanding optical properties in the visible range, their counterparts emitting in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum are less developed. Rb2AgI3 is a promising UV-emitting material due to its large band gap and high stability. However, the optical properties of low-dimensional Rb2AgI3 NCs are yet to be thoroughly explored. Here, we synthesized Rb2AgI3 NCs via a hot injection method and investigated their properties. Remarkably, these NCs exhibit UV luminescence at 302 nm owing to self-trapped excitons. The wide-bandgap nature of Rb2AgI3 NCs, combined with their intrinsic UV luminescence, offers considerable potential for applications in UV photonic nanodevices. Our findings contribute to the understanding of Rb2AgI3 NCs and pave the way for exploiting their unique properties in advanced optoelectronic systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells)
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11 pages, 2223 KiB  
Article
Colloidal Synthesis and Optical Properties of Cs2CuCl4 Nanocrystals
by Wanying Gu, Yicheng Zeng, Yuan Deng, Pan Huang, Geyu Jin, Fangze Liu, Jing Wei and Hongbo Li
Crystals 2023, 13(6), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13060864 - 24 May 2023
Viewed by 1291
Abstract
Lead-free copper halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are emerging materials with excellent photoelectric properties. Herein, we present a colloidal synthesis route for orthorhombic Cs2CuCl4 NCs with a well-defined cubic shape and an average diameter of 24 ± 2.1 nm. The Cs [...] Read more.
Lead-free copper halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are emerging materials with excellent photoelectric properties. Herein, we present a colloidal synthesis route for orthorhombic Cs2CuCl4 NCs with a well-defined cubic shape and an average diameter of 24 ± 2.1 nm. The Cs2CuCl4 NCs exhibited bright, deep blue photoluminescence, which was attributed to the Cu(II) defects. In addition, passivating the Cs2CuCl4 NCs by Ag+ could effectively improve the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and environmental stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells)
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18 pages, 4939 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive First-Principles Investigation of SnTiO3 Perovskite for Optoelectronic and Thermoelectric Applications
by Debidatta Behera, Mumtaz Manzoor, Ramesh Sharma, Mostafa M. Salah, Ivan Stich and Sanat Kumar Mukherjee
Crystals 2023, 13(3), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13030408 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1767
Abstract
In this work, the structural, elastic, electronic, thermodynamic, optical, and thermoelectric properties of cubic phase SnTiO3 employing first-principles calculation are examined. The calculations of all parameters via various potentials such as LDA, PBE-GGA, WC-GGA, PBEsol-GGA, mBJ-GGA, nmBJ-GGA, and HSE are performed. The [...] Read more.
In this work, the structural, elastic, electronic, thermodynamic, optical, and thermoelectric properties of cubic phase SnTiO3 employing first-principles calculation are examined. The calculations of all parameters via various potentials such as LDA, PBE-GGA, WC-GGA, PBEsol-GGA, mBJ-GGA, nmBJ-GGA, and HSE are performed. The computed band structure yields an indirect bandgap of 1.88 eV with the HSE approach. The optical parameters have been evaluated through absorption, dispersion, and loss function. For cubic phase SnTiO3, the maximum absorption coefficient α(ω) is 173 × 104 (cm)−1 at high energy region 9 eV. The thermoelectric properties of the SnTiO3 have been explored by the Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, and power factor employing the BoltzTrap code with temperature and chemical potential. Furthermore, the thermodynamic quantities under high pressure (0–120 GPa) and temperature (0–1200 K) are also calculated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells)
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14 pages, 3714 KiB  
Article
Design and Device Numerical Analysis of Lead-Free Cs2AgBiBr6 Double Perovskite Solar Cell
by Tarek I. Alanazi
Crystals 2023, 13(2), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13020267 - 03 Feb 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2507
Abstract
The advancement of lead-free double perovskite materials has drawn great interest thanks to their reduced toxicity, and superior stability. In this regard, Cs2AgBiBr6 perovskites have appeared as prospective materials for photovoltaic (PV) applications. In this work, we present design and [...] Read more.
The advancement of lead-free double perovskite materials has drawn great interest thanks to their reduced toxicity, and superior stability. In this regard, Cs2AgBiBr6 perovskites have appeared as prospective materials for photovoltaic (PV) applications. In this work, we present design and numerical simulations, using SCAPS-1D device simulator, of Cs2AgBiBr6-based double perovskite solar cell (PSC). The initial calibrated cell is based on an experimental study in which the Cs2AgBiBr6 layer has the lowest bandgap (Eg = 1.64 eV) using hydrogenation treatment reported to date. The initial cell (whose structure is ITO/SnO2/Cs2AgBiBr6/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au) achieved a record efficiency of 6.58%. The various parameters that significantly affect cell performance are determined and thoroughly analyzed. It was found that the conduction band offset between the electron transport layer (ETL) and the Cs2AgBiBr6 layer is the most critical factor that affects the power conversion efficiency (PCE), in addition to the thickness of the absorber film. Upon engineering these important technological parameters, by proposing a double ETL SnO2/ZnO1-xSx structure with tuned absorber thickness, the PCE can be boosted to 14.23%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells)
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13 pages, 2383 KiB  
Article
Construction of Laminated Luminescent Solar Concentrator “Smart” Window Based on Thermoresponsive Polymer and Carbon Quantum Dots
by Bing Xu, Jianying Wang, Chen Cai, Wei Xin, Lai Wei, Qinsi Yang, Bo Peng, Yuandu Hu, Jinhua Li and Xianbao Wang
Crystals 2022, 12(11), 1612; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12111612 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1647
Abstract
Conventional luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) lack the ability of dynamic modulation, energy saving, and privacy protection. In this work, a thermoresponsive laminated LSC was created and further used as a “smart” window (SW). The laminated LSC “smart” window (LSC-SW) was prepared by introducing [...] Read more.
Conventional luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) lack the ability of dynamic modulation, energy saving, and privacy protection. In this work, a thermoresponsive laminated LSC was created and further used as a “smart” window (SW). The laminated LSC “smart” window (LSC-SW) was prepared by introducing carbon quantum dots (CQDs) into the sandwiched LSCs filled with aqueous thermosensitive polymer (PNIPAm) solution. To realize better compatibility, two types of fluorescent materials, hydrophilic CQDs (blue and green emitting CQDs), had been synthesized. The LSC-SW showed a good dynamic response to the ambient temperature and solar irradiation, which can be switched between transparent (<32 °C) and opaque states (>32 °C). Besides, the optimal LSC-SW had high transmittance (>80%) at the transparent state and low transmittance (<10%) at the opaque state. More importantly, the opaque state enabled the LSC-SW with higher external optical efficiency (ηopt of 7.49%), energy saving. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells)
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9 pages, 1959 KiB  
Article
Influence of Formamidine Formate Doping on Performance and Stability of FAPbI3-Based Perovskite Solar Cells
by Zhenyu Gan, Lu Zhao, Xiangyu Sun, Kun Xu, Hongbo Li and Jing Wei
Crystals 2022, 12(9), 1194; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12091194 - 25 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1756
Abstract
Formamidine lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite material is very suitable for solar photovoltaic devices because of its ideal low band gap, theoretically high efficiency, and wide range of solar spectral absorption, coupled with its good thermal stability. A two-step spin coating method [...] Read more.
Formamidine lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite material is very suitable for solar photovoltaic devices because of its ideal low band gap, theoretically high efficiency, and wide range of solar spectral absorption, coupled with its good thermal stability. A two-step spin coating method could control the crystallization process of formamidine lead iodide perovskite films better, resulting in more easily repeatable high-quality films. However, it is still difficult to avoid the formation of halide I-vacancy during the preparation of films, which will affect device performance and stability. In this paper, we added small molecular formamidine formate (FAHCOO) into the PbI2 precursor solution. Due to the high binding energy between HCOO and I-vacancy, film defects caused by I-vacancies could be passivated. A molecular exchange process could be introduced in the two-step method with the addition of FAHCOO. The exchange process could delay the crystallization process in perovskite films and make them transform more fully; thus, ultimately improving the crystallization quality of the films. In addition, by adding FAHCOO to the PbI2 precursor solution, a small number of FAPbI3 can be pre-generated as templates. These templates could induce the growth of specific crystal planes of FAPbI3 in the second step reaction; thereby, improving the crystallinity of FAPbI3 films. The FAPbI3 of devices with optimized FAHCOO show a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.04%, apparently higher than that of the controlled devices without FAHCOO (16.69%). For working stability tests under AM 1.5G illumination in an air environment, PSCs with FAHCOO showed nearly 100% of their initial efficiency after a 4100 s tracking test, while the original control device dropped to about 94%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells)
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17 pages, 3224 KiB  
Article
High-Efficiency Electron Transport Layer-Free Perovskite/GeTe Tandem Solar Cell: Numerical Simulation
by Mostafa M. Salah, Abdelhalim Zekry, Mohamed Abouelatta, Ahmed Shaker, Mohamed Mousa, Fathy Z. Amer, Roaa I. Mubarak and Ahmed Saeed
Crystals 2022, 12(7), 878; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12070878 - 21 Jun 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2844
Abstract
The primary purpose of recent research has been to achieve a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) with stable characteristics, either through experimental studies or through modeling and simulation. In this study, a theoretical analysis of an efficient perovskite solar cell (PSC) with cuprous [...] Read more.
The primary purpose of recent research has been to achieve a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) with stable characteristics, either through experimental studies or through modeling and simulation. In this study, a theoretical analysis of an efficient perovskite solar cell (PSC) with cuprous oxide (Cu2O) as the hole transport material (HTM) and zinc oxysulfide (ZnOS) as the electron transport material (ETM) was proposed to replace the traditional HTMs or ETMs. In addition, the impact of doping the perovskite layer was investigated. The results show that the heterostructure of n-p PSC without an electron transport layer (ETL) could replace the traditional n-i-p structure with better performance metrics and more stability due to reducing the number of layers and interfaces. The impact of HTM doping and thickness was investigated. In addition, the influence of the energy gap of the absorber layer was studied. Furthermore, the proposed PSC without ETL was used as a top sub-cell with germanium-telluride (GeTe) as a bottom sub-cell to produce an efficient tandem cell and boost the PCE. An ETL-free PSC/GeTe tandem cell is proposed for the first time to provide an efficient and stable tandem solar cell with a PCE of 45.99%. Finally, a comparison between the performance metrics of the proposed tandem solar cell and those of other recent studies is provided. All the simulations performed in this study are accomplished by using SCAPS-1D. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells)
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16 pages, 4704 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Amorphous Silicon Carbide Photonic Crystal Absorption Layer for Solar Cells
by Lin Zhou, Yuwei Xu, Shuyu Tan, Meijie Liu and Yong Wan
Crystals 2022, 12(5), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12050665 - 05 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1831
Abstract
In this work, the amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC) with low cost and high extinction coefficient was used as the light absorption layer of solar cells, and the photonic crystal (PC) structure and defect structure were introduced. By optimizing the scatterer shape, structural parameters [...] Read more.
In this work, the amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC) with low cost and high extinction coefficient was used as the light absorption layer of solar cells, and the photonic crystal (PC) structure and defect structure were introduced. By optimizing the scatterer shape, structural parameters and defect types of photonic crystal, the absorption efficiency of the light absorption layer was further improved. The results show that the photonic crystal absorption layer with vacancy line defect is better than the perfect photonic crystal absorption layer. Meanwhile, the absorption efficiency of the photonic crystal absorption layer significantly improves in the case that the scatterer is an elliptical cylindrical air hole scatterer. When the incident light is in the wavelength range of 0.30~0.80 μm and the absorption layer height is 0.60 μm, the absorption efficiency of the absorption layer can reach 95.60%. Compared with the absorption layer without photonic crystal structure, the absorption layer is increased by 43.24%. At the same time, the absorption layer has little dependence on the incidence angle of sunlight. When the incidence angle is 65°, the absorption efficiency is still higher than 80%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells)
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Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 7181 KiB  
Review
Review: Perovskite X-ray Detectors (1997–Present)
by Shuigen Li, Xiangyu Xie, Jian Xiong, Fahui Wang, Jian Liu and Minhua Jiang
Crystals 2022, 12(11), 1563; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12111563 - 02 Nov 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2168
Abstract
Perovskite materials have attracted extensive attention because of their superior performance in the fields of photoelectric detection, photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, metal–air batteries, etc. However, their development and application in the field of X-ray detectors have not been reviewed. In this paper, research on [...] Read more.
Perovskite materials have attracted extensive attention because of their superior performance in the fields of photoelectric detection, photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, metal–air batteries, etc. However, their development and application in the field of X-ray detectors have not been reviewed. In this paper, research on perovskite-based X-ray detectors is analyzed using the bibliometric method. This analysis sample includes the literature from 1997 to the present. In addition, the research status of perovskite-based scintillators and direct X-ray detectors under different crystallization conditions and different preparation methods is discussed. Finally, several problems that need to be overcome in the future of perovskite-based X-ray detectors are put forward. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells)
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31 pages, 116502 KiB  
Review
Annealing Engineering in the Growth of Perovskite Grains
by Lan Wang, Guilin Liu, Xi Xi, Guofeng Yang, Lifa Hu, Bingjie Zhu, Yifeng He, Yushen Liu, Hongqiang Qian, Shude Zhang and Huachao Zai
Crystals 2022, 12(7), 894; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12070894 - 24 Jun 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7474
Abstract
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a promising and fast-growing type of photovoltaic cell due to their low cost and high conversion efficiency. The high efficiency of PSCs is closely related to the quality of the photosensitive layer, and the high-quality light absorbing layer [...] Read more.
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a promising and fast-growing type of photovoltaic cell due to their low cost and high conversion efficiency. The high efficiency of PSCs is closely related to the quality of the photosensitive layer, and the high-quality light absorbing layer depends on the growth condition of the crystals. In the formation of high-quality crystals, annealing is an indispensable and crucial part, which serves to evaporate the solvent and drive the crystallization of the film. Various annealing methods have different effects on the promotion of the film growth process owing to the way they work. Here, this review will present a discussion of the growth puzzles and quality of perovskite crystals under different driving forces, and then explain the relationship between the annealing driving force and crystal growth. We divided the main current annealing methods into physical and chemical annealing, which has never been summarized before. The main annealing methods currently reported for crystal growth are summarized to visualize the impact of annealing design strategies on photovoltaic performance, while the growth mechanisms of thin films under multiple annealing methods are also discussed. Finally, we suggest future perspectives and trends in the industrial fabrication of PSCs in the future. The review promises industrial manufacturing of annealed PSCs. The review is expected to facilitate the industrial fabrication of PSCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells)
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