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Self-assembled Monolayers (SAMs) materials are extensively utilized as hole-selective contacts in various applications, thanks to their minimal material consumption, negligible optical losses, and excellent pattern retention capabilities. These attributes make them ideal for fabricating high-efficiency perovskite and perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. However, achieving uniform and defect-free SAMs deposition on complex metal oxides like indium tin oxide (ITO) remains a significant challenge due to the sensitivity of SAMs adsorption to the surface chemistry of these materials.
Recently, Ye Jichun, a researcher at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with his team specializing in silicon-based solar energy and wide bandgap semiconductors, made notable advancements in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. Building on previous studies of crystalline silicon and perovskite solar cells, they developed a novel approach to reconstruct the ITO surface. This innovative technique selectively eliminates undesirable terminal hydroxyl groups and hydrolyzes the ITO surface using hydrofluoric acid followed by UV ozone treatment, effectively reconstructing the ITO surface. By doing so, the team enhanced the ITO's surface reactivity and area, facilitating the adsorption of high-density SAMs. Additionally, the fluorinated surface produced through this process prevents direct interaction between the ITO and the perovskite active layer while passivating the buried interfaces of the perovskite. This synergistic improvement in perovskite film formation, charge extraction, energy level alignment, and interface chemical stability resulted in single-junction perovskite solar cells achieving a remarkable photoelectric conversion efficiency of 21.3%, with excellent long-term operational stability.
Leveraging the reconstructed ITO, the researchers fabricated four-terminal perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells using translucent batteries and TOPCon batteries, ultimately attaining an impressive efficiency of 28.4%.
This groundbreaking study, titled "Reconstruction of the Indium Tin Oxide Surface Enhances the Adsorption of High-Density Self-Assembled Monolayer for Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells," was published in *Advanced Functional Materials* (DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202304708). The research received support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Zhejiang Province.
[Image Description: A graph showing the J-V curve of the four-terminal perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell based on ITO surface reconstruction, accompanied by microscopic morphological and surface chemical changes observed on the reconstructed ITO surface.]
The success of this research not only highlights the potential of SAMs in enhancing solar cell efficiency but also underscores the importance of precise surface engineering in advancing photovoltaic technology. As the global demand for renewable energy continues to grow, innovations like these pave the way for more efficient and sustainable solar energy solutions.