Enhanced Electron Transport and Mitigated Voltage Loss in Perovskite Photovoltaics Using Sb2O5@SnO2 Composite Electron Transport Layer.

ABSTRACT

The efficacy of electron transport layers (ETLs) is pivotal for optimizing the device performance of perovskite photovoltaic applications. However, colloidal dispersions of SnO2 are prone to aggregation and possess structural defects, such as terminal-hydroxyls (OHT) and oxygen vacancies (VOs), which can degrade the quality of ETLs, impede charge extraction and transport, and affect the nucleation and growth processes of the perovskite layer. In this study, the Sb(OH)4 - ions hydrolyzed from SbCl3 in colloidal dispersion can bind to defect sites and effectively stabilize the SnO2 nanocrystals are demonstrated. Upon oxidative annealing, a Sb2O5@SnO2 composite film is formed, in which the Sb2O5 not only mitigates the aforementioned defects but also broadens the energy range of unoccupied states through its dispersed conduction band. The increased electron affinity (EA) facilitates more efficient capture of photoexcited electrons from the perovskite layer, thus augmenting electron extraction and minimizing electron-hole recombination. As a result, a significant improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 22.60% to 24.54% is achieved, with an open circuit voltage (VOC) of up to 1.195 V, along with excellent stability of unsealed devices under various conditions. This study provides valuable insights for the understanding and design of ETLs in perovskite photovoltaic applications.