Perovskite solar cells based on nanocolumnar plasma-deposited ZnO thin films

Abstract

ZnO thin films having a nanocolumnar microstructure are grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at 423 K on pre-treated fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. The films consist of c-axis-oriented wurtzite ZnO nanocolumns with well-defined microstructure and crystallinity. By sensitizing CH3NH3PbI3 on these photoanodes a power conversion of 4.8 % is obtained for solid-state solar cells. Poly(triarylamine) is found to be less effective when used as the hole-transport material, compared to 2,2,7,7-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD), while the higher annealing temperature of the perovskite leads to a better infiltration in the nanocolumnar structure and an enhancement of the cell efficiency. ZnO can work as an electron conduit in the fabrication of perovskite-based solid-state solar cells. Nanocolumnar ZnO thin films synthesized by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition are effective candidates for large-area deposition. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.