Charge Collection in Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells: Relation to the Nanoscale Elemental Distribution

Journal Article · Mon Dec 19 04:00:00 UTC 2016 · IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2016.2633801 · OSTI ID:1416732

Stuckelberger, Michael ^[1]; Nietzold, Tara ^[1]; Hall, Genevieve N. ^[1]; West, Bradley ^[1]; Werner, Jeremie ^[2]; Niesen, Bjoern ^[2]; Ballif, Christophe ^[2]; Rose, Volker ^[3]; Fenning, David P. ^[4]; Bertoni, Mariana I. ^[1]

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1. Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States). Defect Lab, School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering
2. Institute of Microengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (Switzerland). Photovoltaics and Thin-Film Electronics Laboratory
3. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS), Center for Nanoscale Materials
4. University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA (United States). Department of Nanoengineering

Unveiling the correlation between elemental composition, Fermi-level splitting, and charge collection in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) when exposed to different environments is crucial to understanding the origin of defects. This will enable defect engineering to achieve high-performance and long-lasting PSCs. Here, in this paper, we measured, for the first time, the spatial distribution and charge-collection efficiency at the nanoscale by synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray beam-induced current (XBIC) with subgrain resolution, and we observe a correlation between Pb/I ratio and charge-collection efficiency. In contrast with other thin-film solar cells, PSCs are highly sensitive to ambient conditions (atmosphere and illumination). As the XRF and XBIC measurements were conducted in vacuum under an X-ray source illumination, the impact of measurement conditions on the cells needs to be taken into account. Furthermore, necessary conditions for quantification of XRF/XBIC measurements, such as film homogeneity, are not fulfilled in the case of PSCs. Finally, we will discuss fundamentals of XRF/XBIC measurements of PSCs that will enable reliable, quantitative, high-resolution measurements of elemental distribution and charge collection.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1416732
• Journal Information: IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Journal Name: IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 7; ISSN 2156-3381
• Publisher: IEEECopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English