Low-Temperature (<40 °C) Atmospheric-Pressure Dielectric-Barrier-Discharge-Jet Treatment on Nickel Oxide for p–i–n Structure Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract

A scan-mode low-temperature (<40 °C) atmospheric-pressure helium (He) dielectric-barrier discharge jet (DBDjet) is applied to treat nickel oxide (NiO) thin films for p−i−n perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Reactive plasma species help reduce the trap density, improve the transmittance and wettability, and deepen the valence band maximum (VBM) level. A NiO surface with the lower trap density surface of NiO allows better interfacial contact with the MAPbI 3 layer and increases the carrier extraction capability. MAPbI 3 can better crystallize on a more hydrophilic NiO surface, thereby suppressing charge recombination from the grain boundary and the interface. Further, the deeper VBM allows better band alignment and reduces the probability of nonradiative recombination. NiO treatment using He DBDjet with a scan rate of 0.3 cm/s can improve PSC efficiency from 13.63 to 14.88%.

The Influence of Helium Dielectric Barrier Discharge Jet (DBDjet) Plasma Treatment on Bathocuproine (BCP) in p-i-n-Structure Perovskite Solar Cells

“…This suggests that the environmental nitrogen may participate in the plasma reaction and introduce nitrogen species to the sample. This is evidenced in our previous studies regarding the processing of DBDjet materials [43,49]; reactive nitrogen species are clearly identified in the optical emission spectra of the He DBD jet plasma. These reactive nitrogen species may react with the BCP to form C-N bonds in the first instance.…”

“…A 500 • C arc APP jet was used to post-treat the NiO HTL of the PSCs to improve their performance [42]. A <40 • C helium (He) DBDjet was also used for treating the NiO HTL of the PSCs for better performance [43]. The same DBDjet was also used for stripping the polyvinylpyrrolidone outside the jet-sprayed Ag nanowire electrodes of fully solution-processed n-i-p structure PSCs to improve the device performance [44].…”

Current advancements on charge selective contact interfacial layers and electrodes in flexible hybrid perovskite photovoltaics

“…In another work, a scan-mode low-temperature (<40°C) atmospheric-pressure helium (He) dielectric-barrier discharge jet (DBDjet) was designed and developed to treat nickel oxide (NiO) thin films for improved transmittance and wettability. MAPbI 3 was found to have high crystallinity on a more hydrophilic NiO surface as a result of which the efficiency could be enhanced from 13.63% to 14.88% [195]. In a very recent work by Xia et al, a zwitterion of sulfamic acid ( + H 3 N-SO 3 -, SA) was utilized as a chemical bridge between SnO 2 and a perovskite layer [196].…”

Advances and Potentials of NiOx Surface Treatments for p−i−n Perovskite Solar Cells

“…The PSCs with the treated NiO x exhibited a PCE (≈14.88%) as compared with the untreated NiO x ‐based device where the PCE reached 13.63% (PCE: ≈13.63%). [ 63 ]…”