The Effect of Temperature on Inorganic Electron Transport Materials in HTM-Free Carbon-Based PSCs

Carbon electrode-based perovskite solar cells (c-PSCs) have attracted significant attention due to their cost-effectiveness and simplified structure, particularly when devoid of a hole transport material. However, the widespread use of electron transport materials like Titanium dioxide in c-PSCs is hindered by their low efficiency and the extreme temperatures involved in their manufacturing. Titanium dioxide also exhibits poor optoelectronic properties, including low conductivity and mobility, and is susceptible to photocatalysis, reducing long-term stability when exposed to UV light. In this study, we explore a hole transport material-free device based on the Fluorine doped tin oxide/Titanium dioxide/perovskite absorber/carbon structure. Using a one-dimensional Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator, we analyze the device's response to temperature variations. To address the limitations of Titanium dioxide, various inorganic ETMs such as Cadmium zinc sulfide, Tungsten Disulfide, Tungsten Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Oxysulfide, and Zinc Selenide are employed as substitutes, and their impact on device performance is assessed. Optimizing the parameters reveals that the design incorporating Zinc Selenide as the ETM produces the most favorable outcomes, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 19.55% at 25 °C.