Broad-band-enhanced and minimal hysteresis perovskite solar cells with interfacial coating of biogenic plasmonic light trapping silver nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have evolved into a viable potential alternative energy source due to their cost-effectiveness and simple fabrication techniques. Despite the immense research interest attracted by PSCs, their rooftop application remains constrained by their low efficiency and hysteretic nature. To address these issues, in this paper, the introduction of silver metallic nanoparticles (AgNPs) with plasmonic effect was achieved by an experimental approach to stimulate the generation and transport of charge carriers, which subsequently results to minimal hysteresis and broadband-enhanced plasmonic devices. Due to the far-field light scattering effect, AgNPs improve the light-trapping of the devices. As a result, electrical characteristics and light absorption are significantly enhanced, leading to broadband increase in photovoltaic performance. With the introduction of one coating cycle of AgNPs, the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the perovskite solar cells increases from a reference value of 4.543 to 10.856%. The fill factor (FF) of such a device was 0.650, the current density (J_sc) was 18.998 mA/cm², and voltage (V_oc) was 0.879 V. This device shows an improvement of ~139.0% in PCE, ~61.7% in FF, ~43.7% in J_sc and ~2.8% in V_oc over the pristine device that lacks AgNPs. The findings of this study contribute to further insight and understanding of plasmonic PSCs by offering useful references and recommendations for PSCs with noble metal NPs incorporation.

KEYWORDS:

• Perovskite solar cells
• AgNPs
• LSPR effect
• broad band
• hysteresis

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (see grant no. IBR-2022/FX302). The authors are very thankful to the Namiroch Research Laboratory, Abuja for providing analysis and characterisation facilities. The authors would like to thank Engr. Isa Yakubu, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for the technical and characterisation assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this research can be made available upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research work was funded by “Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) 2022 intervention” under grant number “IBR-2022/FX302”