Effects of Cd Diffusion and Doping in High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells Using CdS as Electron Transport Layer

Dunlap-Shohl, Wiley A.; Younts, Robert; Gautam, Bhoj; Gundogdu, Kenan; Mitzi, David B.

doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.6b05406

Effects of Cd Diffusion and Doping in High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells Using CdS as Electron Transport Layer

Journal Article · Mon Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Physical Chemistry. C

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.6b05406· OSTI ID:1593881

Dunlap-Shohl, Wiley A. ^[1]; Younts, Robert ^[2]; Gautam, Bhoj ^[2]; Gundogdu, Kenan ^[2]; Mitzi, David B. ^[3]

Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science; Duke University
North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Dept. of Physics
Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Dept. of Chemistry

Perovskite solar cells with stabilized power conversion efficiency exceeding 15% have been achieved, using a methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) absorber and CdS as the electron transport layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals a small presence of Cd at the surface of most perovskite films fabricated on CdS. In this work, perovskite films were deliberately doped with Cd to understand the possible impacts of Cd diffusion into the perovskite absorber layer. Doping substantially increases the grain size of the perovskite films but also reduces device performance through the formation of an electrical barrier, as inferred by the S-shape of their $J–V$ curves. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements of the doped films do not indicate substantial nonradiative recombination due to bulk defects, but a secondary phase is evident in these films, which experiments have revealed to be the organic–inorganic hybrid material methylammonium cadmium iodide, (CH₃NH₃)₂CdI₄. It is further demonstrated that this compound can form via the reaction of CdS with methylammonium iodide and may form as a competing phase during deposition of the perovskite. Buildup of this insulating compound may act as an electrical barrier at perovskite interfaces, accounting for the drop in device performance.

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Research Organization:: Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: US Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0006712

OSTI ID:: 1593881

Journal Information:: Journal of Physical Chemistry. C, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry. C Journal Issue: 30 Vol. 120; ISSN 1932-7447

Publisher:: American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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