Enhanced Electronic Structure, Phase, and Morphology of a CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cell Using Vanadium Copper Sulfide (VCuS) Nanoparticle Treatment

• Published in: Journal of inorganic and organometallic polymers and materials 2024-10, Vol.34 (10), p.4863-4879
• Main Authors: Mkawi, E. M., ALmehmadi, F. G., Al-Hadeethi, Y., Ali, M. K. M., Roqan, I. S., Alamoudi, Hadeel A., Alreshidi, Fatimah, Alamri, Saleh N., Umar, Ahmad, Bekyarova, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptivity; Bulk density; Carrier recombination; Charge efficiency; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Crystal defects; Crystal growth; Crystallinity; Crystallization; Current carriers; Efficiency; Electronic structure; Electrons; Energy gap; Grain size; Holes (electron deficiencies); Homogeneous structure; Inorganic Chemistry; Luminous intensity; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Open circuit voltage; Optical properties; Organic Chemistry; Perovskites; Photoluminescence; Photovoltaic cells; Pinholes; Polymer Sciences; Solar cells; Thin films
• ISSN: 1574-1443; 1574-1451
• DOI: 10.1007/s10904-024-03134-z

Achieving high-performance perovskite solar cells with satisfactory efficiency requires a decrease of charge carrier recombination and intrinsic density of defects in organic and inorganic halide perovskite absorber materials. In this study, the effect of vanadium copper sulfide (VCuS) nanoparticles (NPs) used to accelerate CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 perovskite crystallization in a single phase is investigated. The results indicate that the employed VCuS NPs influence the purity, formation of a single phase, and crystallinity of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 perovskite with favorable crystal growth in the (110) direction. The morphological analysis indicates the existence of a dense, compact, and homogeneous structure, which is associated with a large grain size that extends the lifetime and reduces recombination by increasing the electron-hole diffusion length. According to its optical characteristics, perovskite has an energy gap between 1.62 and 1.6 eV for visible light and an absorption coefficient in excess of 10 5 cm − 1 . Photoluminescence (PL) measurements revealed that when VCuS NPs were added to perovskite thin films, the PL intensity decreased, indicating a decrease in charge recombination. For sample 8 mg/mL-VCuS, the bulk heterojunction solar cells demonstrated a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.11%, a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 20.93 mA/cm 2 , an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.043 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 69.23%. In addition to enhancing light harvesting efficiency, this superior doped perovskite film eliminates pinholes, which reduces charge recombination in solar cells. Highlights Treatment of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 perovskite layers with VCuS NPs to improve PSCs. VCuS NPs doping treatment deeply enhances the purity, formation of a single phase, morphology, and crystallinity of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 perovskite. J SC , V OC , and FF changed depending on the concentration of VCuS NPs used. A sample of an 8 mg/mL-VCuS -based solar cell device exhibited PCEs of 15.11%.