Enhancing the Efficiency and Stability of PbS Quantum Dot Solar Cells through Engineering an Ultrathin NiO Nanocrystalline Interlayer

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c14332
• Publication Date: 2020-09-15T09:02:58Z
• Authors: Shanqin Liu; Long Hu; Shujuan Huang; Wanqing Zhang; Jingjing Ma; Jichao Wang; Xinwei Guan; Chun-Ho Lin; Jiyun Kim; Tao Wan; Qi Lei; Dewei Chu; Tom Wu
• Keywords: Nanocrystalline material; Non-blocking I/O; Passivation

Significant progress in PbS quantum dot solar cells has been achieved through designing device architecture, engineering band alignment, and optimizing the surface chemistry of colloidal dots (CQDs). However, developing a highly stable while maintaining desirable efficiency is still challenging issue for these emerging cells. In this study, by introducing an ultrathin NiO nanocrystalline interlayer between Au electrodes hole-transport layer PbS-EDT, resulting CQD cell improved from 9.3 to 10.4% because hole-extraction efficiency. More excitingly, stability significantly enhanced owing passivation effect robust interlayer. The with retain 95 97% initial when heated at 80 °C 120 min treated oxygen plasma irradiation 60 min, respectively. contrast, control devices without only 75 63% under same testing conditions.