Boosting inverted type organic solar cell efficiency through the use of spray coated Y and Sn co-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles as an electron transport layers


Gegin K., DEMİR A., ÖZTÜRK S., Erkovan M., KÖSEMEN A.

JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS, vol.34, no.18, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 34 Issue: 18
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s10854-023-10739-6
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Chemical Abstracts Core, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Computer & Applied Sciences, INSPEC, MEDLINE, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as an electron transport layer (ETL) in inverted type organic solar cells (IOSCs). Three different forms of ZnO NPs were synthesized: undoped, doped with Sn or Y, and co-doped with combinations of these elements (Sn-co-doped Y). The ZnO NPs ETL was introduced into the solar cells using a spray coating technique, resulting in a bulk heterojunction structure of ZnO NPs/P3HT:PCBM/V2O5/Ag. Various methodological approaches were used to characterize the ZnO nanoparticles, including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometer. The current-voltage performance of the solar cells was measured under 100 mW/cm(2) white light. The results showed that the efficiency of the solar cells using undoped ZnO as ETL was 3.09%. However, the use of 0.5 wt% Sn and 1 wt% Y co-doped ZnO as ETL significantly improved the efficiency to 3.67%, representing an approximate increase of 19% compared to the undoped ETL. All experimental processes were performed under ambient air conditions. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of using doped or co-doped ZnO NPs as ETL for fabricating IOSCs at low temperatures and improving their efficiency.