Perovskite Solar Cells: A Porous Graphitic Carbon based Hole Transporter/Counter Electrode Material Extracted from an Invasive Plant Species Eichhornia Crassipes
Journal article, 2020

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) composed of organic polymer-based hole-transporting materials (HTMs) are considered to be an important strategy in improving the device performance, to compete with conventional solar cells. Yet the use of such expensive and unstable HTMs, together with hygroscopic perovskite structure remains a concern – an arguable aspect for the prospect of onsite photovoltaic (PV) application. Herein, we have demonstrated the sustainable fabrication of efficient and air-stable PSCs composed of an invasive plant (Eichhornia crassipes) extracted porous graphitic carbon (EC-GC) which plays a dual role as HTM/counter electrode. The changes in annealing temperature (~450 °C, ~850 °C and ~1000 °C) while extracting the EC-GC, made a significant impact on the degree of graphitization - a remarkable criterion in determining the device performance. Hence, the fabricated champion device-1c: Glass/FTO/c-TiO2/mp-TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3−xClx/EC-GC10@CH3NH3PbI3−x Clx/EC-GC10) exhibited a PCE of 8.52%. Surprisingly, the introduced EC-GC10 encapsulated perovskite interfacial layer at the perovskite/HTM interface helps in overcoming the moisture degradation of the hygroscopic perovskite layer in which the same champion device-1c evinced better air stability retaining its efficiency ~94.40% for 1000 hours. We believe that this present work on invasive plant extracted carbon playing a dual role, together as an interfacial layer may pave the way towards a reliable perovskite photovoltaic device at low-cost.

Author

Selvakumar Pitchaiya

Coimbatore Institute of Technology

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Nandhakumar Eswaramoorthy

VIT University

Muthukumarasamy Natarajan

Coimbatore Institute of Technology

Agilan Santhanam

Coimbatore Institute of Technology

Vijayshankar Asokan

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Venkatraman Madurai Ramakrishnan

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Coimbatore Institute of Technology

Balasundaraprabhu Rangasamy

PSG College of Technology

Senthilarasu Sundaram

University of Exeter

Punniamoorthy Ravirajan

University of Jaffna

Dhayalan Velauthapillai

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Scientific Reports

2045-2322 (ISSN) 20452322 (eISSN)

Vol. 10 1 6835

Subject Categories

Textile, Rubber and Polymeric Materials

Materials Chemistry

Composite Science and Engineering

DOI

10.1038/s41598-020-62900-4

PubMed

32321928

More information

Latest update

5/20/2020