Steam-induced melt infiltration method for all oxide Co3O4 based solar cells.
Fayyaz, Faiza (2024)
2024
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2024082065687
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2024082065687
Tiivistelmä
Solar cells based on oxide materials are an attractive option for sustainable energy production offering a viable solution to climate-related issues. However, the success of all-oxide solar cells (AOSCs) is highly dependent on efficient charge extraction to prevent the recombination of photogenerated carriers, which is a primary factor contributing to their lower efficiency.
In this research work, a unique steam-induced melt infiltration (SIMI) method was introduced and studied to achieve bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) design in CO3O4-based oxide solar cells to overcome recombination losses. It is proposed that this design will overcome the losses due to the recombination of electrons and holes therefore resulting in an increased efficiency in all oxide solar cells. The work was divided into two parts. First, different parameters were studied on microscope glass slides, and second, these optimized parameters were used to build devices.
In the first part of the study, the parameters such as thickness of mesoporous titania film, concentration of metal salt Co3O4.6H2O, number of SIMI cycles, etching time for sacrificial silica layer, and capping effect were investigated and optimized to be used for building devices. The optimized parameters identified were 0.25 g/mL mp-TiO2, 1 M Co3O4·6H2O, 5 SIMI cycles, a 6h etching time, and subsequent capping with 1 M salt solution. A significant outcome of this study, confirmed by SEM imaging, was the formation of a bulk-heterojunction structure.
These optimized parameters were used for building solar cell devices on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass. These built devices (FTO glass/ c-TiO2/ mp-TiO2/ mpSiO2/ SIMI cycles/ 6h etching/ capping/ metal contact) were characterized by I-V measurements. The devices resulted in an overall low efficiency and VOC values close to zero. This study suggests that the proposed steam-induced melt infiltration method is successful in achieving bulk-heterojunction design however, other parameters need to be studied and optimized to increase the efficiency of Co3O4 based all oxide solar cells.
In this research work, a unique steam-induced melt infiltration (SIMI) method was introduced and studied to achieve bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) design in CO3O4-based oxide solar cells to overcome recombination losses. It is proposed that this design will overcome the losses due to the recombination of electrons and holes therefore resulting in an increased efficiency in all oxide solar cells. The work was divided into two parts. First, different parameters were studied on microscope glass slides, and second, these optimized parameters were used to build devices.
In the first part of the study, the parameters such as thickness of mesoporous titania film, concentration of metal salt Co3O4.6H2O, number of SIMI cycles, etching time for sacrificial silica layer, and capping effect were investigated and optimized to be used for building devices. The optimized parameters identified were 0.25 g/mL mp-TiO2, 1 M Co3O4·6H2O, 5 SIMI cycles, a 6h etching time, and subsequent capping with 1 M salt solution. A significant outcome of this study, confirmed by SEM imaging, was the formation of a bulk-heterojunction structure.
These optimized parameters were used for building solar cell devices on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass. These built devices (FTO glass/ c-TiO2/ mp-TiO2/ mpSiO2/ SIMI cycles/ 6h etching/ capping/ metal contact) were characterized by I-V measurements. The devices resulted in an overall low efficiency and VOC values close to zero. This study suggests that the proposed steam-induced melt infiltration method is successful in achieving bulk-heterojunction design however, other parameters need to be studied and optimized to increase the efficiency of Co3O4 based all oxide solar cells.