Perovskite Thin Film Synthesised from Sputtered Lead Sulphide

• Published in: Scientific reports 2018-01, Vol.8 (1), p.1563-8, Article 1563
• Main Authors: Silva Filho, José Maria Clemente da, Ermakov, Viktor A., Marques, Francisco Chagas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 132/124; 140/133; 639/301/299/946; 639/4077/4072/4062; Evaporation; Humanities and Social Sciences; Infrared spectroscopy; Iodides; Iodine; multidisciplinary; Photons; Raman spectroscopy; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Screen printing; Solar cells; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Sulfides; Thin films; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19746-8

In the last few years, research on dye-sensitised devices has been focused on the development of solar cells, based on CH 3 NH 3 PbX 3 (X = I − , Br − , Cl − ) composites with perovskite structure. The deposition of perovskite thin films is usually carried out by solution-based processes using spin-coating techniques that result in the production of high quality films. Solar cells made by this method exceed 20% efficiency, with the potential for use in large scale production through ink print or screen printing techniques. As an alternative route, perovskite thin films can be deposited through thermal evaporation. A new method is proposed to produce CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 , based on a radio-frequency (rf) -sputtering technique that results in a high reproducibility of the films and is compatible with roll-to-roll processes. We deposited thin films of lead-sulphide (PbS) and converted them into perovskite by placing the films in an iodine atmosphere, followed by dipping in a solution of methylammonium iodide (CH 3 NH 3 I). The conversions to PbI 2 and CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 were confirmed by elemental analyses, absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Structural properties were revealed by X-ray diffraction and infrared and Raman spectroscopy.