{"title":"Solvent engineering of SnO2 ETL for enhanced performance of carbon-based CsPbIBr2 PSCs","authors":"Tianheng Du, Liguo Jin","doi":"10.1007/s10971-025-06680-1","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study thoroughly investigates the effects of different solvent engineering strategies on the structure and properties of SnO<sub>2</sub> electron transport layers (ETLs) and evaluates their performance-enhancing effects on carbon-based all-inorganic CsPbIBr<sub>2</sub> perovskite solar cells (PSCs). By comparing the SnO<sub>2</sub> ETLs prepared with ethanol (ET-SnO<sub>2</sub>) and isopropanol (IPA-SnO<sub>2</sub>) solvents and constructing corresponding CsPbIBr<sub>2</sub> PSCs devices, we comprehensively analysed the structure, morphology, wettability, light transmittance and electronic transport properties of the SnO<sub>2</sub> ETLs using characterization methods such as XRD, SEM, contact angle measurement, transmission spectroscopy, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Combined with the J-V characteristics of the device, we revealed the mechanism of the effect of solvent engineering on the performance of PSCs. The results showed that IPA-SnO<sub>2</sub> exhibited better performance with lower contact angle and higher compactness, which is conducive to electron transport and reduces interfacial defects. IPA-SnO<sub>2</sub> also promoted the growth of CsPbIBr<sub>2</sub> crystals, forming larger and denser crystal structures and reducing pinhole defects. In addition, IPA-SnO<sub>2</sub> improves the light transmittance of the FTO substrate and the light absorption of the CsPbIBr<sub>2</sub> film, thereby increasing the light trapping efficiency. Finally, the IPA-SnO<sub>2</sub>-based PSCs achieved a PCE of 5.95%, an improvement of 25% compared to ET-SnO<sub>2</sub>, demonstrating good application prospects. This study provides an important experimental basis for optimizing the preparation process of SnO<sub>2</sub> ETL and improving the performance of carbon-based CsPbIBr<sub>2</sub> PSCs.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":664,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","volume":"113 3","pages":"942 - 951"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10971-025-06680-1","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MATERIALS SCIENCE, CERAMICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study thoroughly investigates the effects of different solvent engineering strategies on the structure and properties of SnO2 electron transport layers (ETLs) and evaluates their performance-enhancing effects on carbon-based all-inorganic CsPbIBr2 perovskite solar cells (PSCs). By comparing the SnO2 ETLs prepared with ethanol (ET-SnO2) and isopropanol (IPA-SnO2) solvents and constructing corresponding CsPbIBr2 PSCs devices, we comprehensively analysed the structure, morphology, wettability, light transmittance and electronic transport properties of the SnO2 ETLs using characterization methods such as XRD, SEM, contact angle measurement, transmission spectroscopy, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Combined with the J-V characteristics of the device, we revealed the mechanism of the effect of solvent engineering on the performance of PSCs. The results showed that IPA-SnO2 exhibited better performance with lower contact angle and higher compactness, which is conducive to electron transport and reduces interfacial defects. IPA-SnO2 also promoted the growth of CsPbIBr2 crystals, forming larger and denser crystal structures and reducing pinhole defects. In addition, IPA-SnO2 improves the light transmittance of the FTO substrate and the light absorption of the CsPbIBr2 film, thereby increasing the light trapping efficiency. Finally, the IPA-SnO2-based PSCs achieved a PCE of 5.95%, an improvement of 25% compared to ET-SnO2, demonstrating good application prospects. This study provides an important experimental basis for optimizing the preparation process of SnO2 ETL and improving the performance of carbon-based CsPbIBr2 PSCs.
期刊介绍：
The primary objective of the Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology (JSST), the official journal of the International Sol-Gel Society, is to provide an international forum for the dissemination of scientific, technological, and general knowledge about materials processed by chemical nanotechnologies known as the "sol-gel" process. The materials of interest include gels, gel-derived glasses, ceramics in form of nano- and micro-powders, bulk, fibres, thin films and coatings as well as more recent materials such as hybrid organic-inorganic materials and composites. Such materials exhibit a wide range of optical, electronic, magnetic, chemical, environmental, and biomedical properties and functionalities. Methods for producing sol-gel-derived materials and the industrial uses of these materials are also of great interest.
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