Source-linked AI summary
Polyaniline as a conductive polymer and its role in improving the efficiency and conductivity of perovskite solar cells
Mehran Hosseinzadeh Dizaj
TL;DR
Perovskite solar cells need conductive transport layers, while polyaniline has processing and long-cycle conductivity limitations. This study evaluates polyaniline-based transport layers with graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide, finding that the reduced-graphene-oxide configuration delivers the strongest efficiency-related performance and lowest hysteresis.
Problem
Evidence is limited on how conductive polyaniline-based transport layers affect conductivity and performance in perovskite solar cells.
Method
The study incorporates polyaniline into perovskite solar-cell transport layers and characterizes their optical and electrical properties using an advanced solar simulator.
Results
Reduced-graphene-oxide-containing polyaniline layers show the highest conductivity-related performance, strongest power-conversion potential, and lowest hysteresis among the evaluated polyaniline-based hole-transport layers.
Takeaways & Limitations
Polyaniline composites with graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide are supported as promising hole-transport-layer materials for inverted perovskite solar cells.
Takeaways & Limitations
Polyaniline is insoluble or slowly soluble in common solvents, and its conductivity decreases during long cycles.
Abstract
from arXiv · showhide
This article investigates the role of polyaniline as a conductive polymer in the active layer of perovskite solar cells. Samples were created by incorporating polyaniline into the transport layers to assess its impact on enhancing efficiency and conductivity. The application of this polymer across various layers of the cell structure led to improved stability and performance. Given its high doping capability, polyaniline was examined in detail, particularly focusing on two types of oxidation doping and its integration into the hole transport layer. Graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide were chosen as comparative models, and their performance was evaluated against the standard polyaniline configuration. Laboratory results revealed that power conversion efficiency increased by 17.5% with graphene oxide and by 36.8% with reduced graphene oxide. Furthermore, short-circuit current density improved by 9.8% and 23.1%, respectively. These findings are consistent with existing studies in the field and support the validity of the approach.
1. INTRODUCTION
The introduction presents polyaniline (PANI) as a promising conductive polymer for perovskite solar cells because of its chemical stability, high conductivity, and electrochemical properties. It emphasizes that incorporating PANI into transport layers can improve charge transport, including electron mobility.
- PANI attracts attention among conductive polymers because of its chemical stability, high conductivity, and electrochemical properties.
- Conductive polymers with conjugated π-electron systems exhibit distinctive electronic properties and facilitate oxidation and reduction relative to conventional polymers.
- 10%: PANI in both the hole transport layer (HTL) and electron transport layer (ETL) increases electron mobility by approximately 10%.The passage links this enhancement to more efficient charge transport and overall device performance.
2. METHOD
The method synthesizes polyaniline chemically under acidic conditions, incorporates it into perovskite solar-cell transport layers, and evaluates optical and electrical performance using controlled coating and simulation equipment. The study also examines PANI oxidation states and graphene-based composite hole-transport layers.
- PANI synthesis: PANI was synthesized by adding solution B to solution A, followed by acid washing, filtration, and one hour of oven drying, yielding over 90% purity.Solution A contains aniline and hydrochloric acid, while solution B contains ammonium persulfate and hydrochloric acid.
- Device fabrication: The perovskite layer was applied inside an isolated chamber, while sputtering coated the electron- and hole-transport layers.Spin coating was used to spread thin material layers uniformly across substrates.
- Characterization: Optical and electrical properties of the PANI-containing solar-cell modules were measured with an advanced solar simulator to investigate transport-layer effects on efficiency and conductivity.The experimental setup included spin coating, an isolated chamber, sputtering equipment, and a solar simulator.
- Polymerization and oxidation: Chemical PANI polymerization used acidic APS or KPS conditions, whereas electrochemical polymerization used aniline and an acidic electrolyte under an applied voltage.PANI composition and redox state were considered relevant to conductivity and stability; the polymer has three oxidation states.
- Graphene-based HTL comparison: 21.6% efficiency was obtained with PANI composite films containing graphene oxide, compared with about 16.61% for the previous intact layers.The composite films were investigated as hole-transport layers in reverse-method perovskite solar cells and were reported to increase electrical conductivity.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
PSSA-g-PANI was combined with GO and RGO to form stable aqueous composites for perovskite solar-cell hole-transport layers. The composites were evaluated for conductivity, optoelectronic properties, perovskite structure and morphology, and device performance, with PANI/RGO showing the strongest EQE response among the PANI-based layers.
- Composite preparation: PSSA-g-PANI+GO and PSSA-g-PANI+RGO formed water-dissolved solutions that remained stable for several weeks.The composites were prepared by mixing GO or RGO with PSSA-g-PANI.
- Optoelectronic properties: Surface-layer conductivity was identified as important because the optical current of perovskite solar cells depends on electrical conductivity.Simulation results compared transmittance, UPS kinetic energies, energy levels, and composite-film conductivity.
- Perovskite characterization: Perovskite films grown on PSSA-g-PANI and GO/RGO composite hole-transport layers were compared using XRD, UV-Vis absorption, and steady-state PL emission.The XRD comparison found tetragonal CH3NH3PbI3 films for the three hole-transport-layer models.
- Morphology: 250–400 nm grain sizes and smooth, homogeneous absorber morphology were observed across PSSA-g-PANI+RGO, PSSA-g-PANI+GO, PSSA-g-PANI, and PANI surfaces.FE-SEM images used a 500 nm scale bar.
- Device performance: PANI+RGO showed the strongest EQE response at 400-700 nm among the PANI polymer-based hole-transport layers.Figure 11 compared J-V curves, EQE spectra, and PCE decrease versus time.
4. CONCLUSION
The conclusion emphasizes productivity and stability as key priorities in perovskite nano-solar-cell development. It describes continued research using standard and reduced forms of graphene oxide alongside new materials and polymer compounds.
- 4. CONCLUSION: Productivity and stability are identified as the most important elements in perovskite nano-solar-cell manufacturing and innovation.The passage frames these parameters as central targets of ongoing scientific efforts.
- 4. CONCLUSION: Researchers seek to improve these parameters by experimenting with new materials, organic chemical compounds, and polymer compounds.
- 4. CONCLUSION: The research continued by using prior work on graphene oxide in standard and reduced forms.
FUNDING INFORMATION
The authors acknowledge funding from the University of Mazandaran and Islamic Azad University in Iran, with supplementary support from IAES.
- Funding came from the University of Mazandaran and Islamic Azad University, Iran, with supplementary support from the Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science (IAES).
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS STATEMENT
The statement uses the CRediT taxonomy to identify author contributions and lists Tole Sutikno alongside defined contribution roles.
- The journal uses CRediT to recognize individual contributions, reduce authorship disputes, and facilitate collaboration.
- Tole Sutikno is the named contributor in the contribution statement.
- The listed roles include investigation, resources, data curation, original-draft writing, and review-and-editing writing.
- Additional roles include conceptualization, methodology, software, validation, and formal analysis.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
The section lists contribution-role abbreviations and states that data availability is not applicable because no new data were created or analyzed.
- Contributions: Contribution roles include visualization, supervision, project administration, and funding acquisition.These roles are abbreviated as Vi, Su, P, and Fu, respectively.
- Data availability: Data availability is not applicable because no new data were created or analyzed in the study.