SnO 2 nanorod arrays growth for further application as ETL
in perovskite solar cells
Gaukhar Nigmetova
Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Humanities,
Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
Email: [email protected]
Abstract
Perovskite solar cells attract particular attention from the scientific community due to their high-quality
optoelectronic and light-absorbing properties. Attempts are done towards improving performance of the
solar cells such as increasing power conversion efficiency and stability for further commercialization of
perovskite-based photovoltaic devices. It is reasonably believed, that the better quality of the solar cells can
be achieved by proper chose of an electron-transport layer (ETL), which can be one of the options to
develop device engineering. In this study, highly-structured vertically-aligned SnO 2 nanorod arrays were
considered to be a promising material for an efficient ETL. The idea behind is such that these 1D
mesocrystalline nanorod arrays could serve as a foundation for a highly-oriented uniform layer of
perovskite crystals with increased surface area contact with ETL, and therefore, decreasing recombination
effect. In order to grow SnO 2 nanorod arrays, NaBr and Sn(IV) were dissolved in a solvent system
comprising acetic acid, ethanol and water. The proper adjustments of each component’s ratio relative to
one another were performed and the effect of each solvent was analysed based on the images obtained by
SEM. Finally, optimum conditions were achieved for a further implication of this ETL preparation method
in perovskite solar cells fabrication.
Reference:
1. S. Chen, M. Wang, J. Ye, J. Cai, Y. Ma, H. Zhou, L. Qi, Nano Res. 6 (2013) 243-252.