Enhancing the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells using plasmonic Au@Pt@Au core-shell nanoparticles

Abstract

Au@Pt@Au core-shell nanoparticles, synthesized through chemical reduction, are utilized to improve the photoelectric performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in which carbon films are used as the counter electrode, and the hole-transporting layer is not used. After a series of experiments, these Au@Pt@Au core-shell nanoparticles are optimized and demonstrate outstanding optical and electrical properties due to their local surface plasmon resonance and scattering effects. PSC devices containing 1 wt.% Au@Pt@Au core-shell nanoparticles have the highest efficiency; this is attributable to their significant light trapping and utilization capabilities, which are the result of the distinctive structure of the nanoparticles. The power conversion efficiency of PSCs, with an optimal content of plasmonic nanoparticles (1 wt.%), increased 8.1%, compared to normal PSCs, which was from 12.4% to 13.4%; their short-circuit current density also increased by 5.4%, from 20.5 mA.cm-2 to 21.6 mA.cm-2. The open-circuit voltages remaining are essentially unchanged. When the number of Au@Pt@Au core-shell nanoparticles in the mesoporous TiO2 layer increases, the photovoltaic parameters of the former shows a downward trend due to the recombination of electrons and holes, as well as the decrease in electron transporting pathways.