Back-contact architectures for perovskite solar cells eliminate parasitic-absorption losses caused by the electrode and charge collection layers but increase surface reflection due to the high refractive index mismatch at the air/perovskite interface. To mitigate this, a ∼85 nm thick layer of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), with a refractive index between those of air and perovskite, has been applied as an antireflective coating. Transfer matrix modelling is used to determine the ideal PMMA layer thickness, with UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements used to confirm the increase in absorption that arises through the application of the antireflective coating. The deposition of a thin film of PMMA via spin coating onto a solar cell results in a 20–30% relative increase in short circuit current density and stable power output density.
The fabrication of back-contact electrodes with micron-sized features by microsphere lithography is implemented via a modified "natural lithography" approach. The solution-based assembly of microsphere beads on a substrate occurs via the electrostatic attraction between the molecular monolayer-functionalized substrate and the micron-sized polystyrene microbeads with carboxyl surface groups. Through a modification of the original "natural lithography" method, the density of the microbeads used as a lithographic mask can be increased 5-fold. The resulting back-contact electrodes are used for the fabrication of perovskite solar cell devices and the examination of their potential. Devices with electrodes fabricated using a modified "natural lithography" approach showed a 3.5fold increase in performance compared to the devices with electrodes made using the original method.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.