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This paper reports on the fabrication of ZnO nanowalls for use as an electron collecting layer (ECL) in CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Two-dimension ZnO nanowalls were grown using a low-temperature chemical bath method with a thin Al film as a seed layer. We compared electron collecting layers based on nanowalls and sol–gel derived ZnO thin film in PSCs and sought to identify the mechanism underlying the collection of electrons. The proposed ZnO nanowalls achieved a fill factor significantly higher than that of ZnO thin films, which translated into a remarkable improvement in power conversion efficiency, reaching 13.6% under AM 1.5G illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of alcohols (methanol, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol) were added to poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): (polystyrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) aqueous solutions in order to manipulate the molecular structure of the PEDOT chains in PEDOT: PSS hole transporting materials (HTMs) and thus to improve the power conversion efficiency of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 based solar cells. The structural and electronic characteristics of the resultant PEDOT: PSS HTMs were analyzed using atomic-force microscopy, contact angle measurement, Raman scattering spectrometry and photoelectron spectrometry. The properties of the PEDOT: PSS thin films could be controlled by tuning the viscosity of the PEDOT: PSS solutions. High viscosity PEDOT: PSS solutions resulted in linear structured PEDOT chains, which increased the work function of the PEDOT: PSS HTMs thereby improving the open-circuit voltage of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 solar cells. The surface roughness and surface free energy of the PEDOT: PSS HTMs influence the structural properties of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films, which determines the exciton dissociation at the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 /PEDOT: PSS interface (short-circuit current density) and the carrier recombination at the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 /[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 61 BM) interface (fill factor). In addition, it is predicted that the power conversion efficiency can be further improved by increasing the crystallinity of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of nonpolar antisolvents (chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, iodobenzene and toluene) were used to assist in the formation of smooth and crystalline CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films by a one-step spin-coating method. The structural, optical and excitonic characteristics of the resultant CH 3 NH 3 PI 3 thin films were analyzed using an atomic-force microscope, X-ray diffractometer, absorbance spectrum, photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, time-resolved PL and temperature-dependent PL. The properties of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films are dependent on the relative polarity and boiling point of the nonpolar antisolvents used in the washing treatment process. The interplay between nucleation (relative polarity) and crystal growth (boiling point) during the formation of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films influences the short-circuit current density (J SC ) and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the corresponding solar cells. The experimental results demonstrate that iodobenzene can be substituted for toluene as a more efficient antisolvent in the washing treatment process during the fabrication of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films. In addition, it is predicted that the J SC and PCE can be further improved by increasing the crystallinity of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]