Metal Oxide Interlayers Enable Lower-Cost Electrodes in PbS QD Solar Cells

Ella L. Wassweiler; Melany Sponseller; Anna Osherov; Joel Jean; Moungi G. Bawendi; Vladimir Bulovic

doi:10.1021/acsaem.3c00356

Metal Oxide Interlayers Enable Lower-Cost Electrodes in PbS QD Solar Cells

Ella L. Wassweiler, Melany Sponseller, Anna Osherov, Joel Jean, Moungi G. Bawendi, Vladimir Bulovic

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

PbS quantum dots (QDs) are an emerging light-absorbing material for thin-film solar cells. However, state-of-the-art solar cell architectures rely on a gold electrode, which raises material costs to 3× more than the 2030 US DOE SunShot target module price. Here, we enable both aluminum and copper electrodes to replace gold through a NiOx interlayer. An additional indium tin oxide (ITO) buffer layer between the NiOx interlayer and electrode further enables longer shelf lifetimes. By combining these layers, we lower electrode material costs in PbS QD solar cells by a factor of 130000 without compromising power conversion efficiency or stability.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	5646-5652
Number of pages	7
Journal	ACS Applied Energy Materials
Volume	6
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.3c00356
State	Published - 12 Jun 2023
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

low-cost electrodes
nickel oxide
PbS quantum dots
photovoltaics
thin-film solar cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Electrochemistry
Materials Chemistry
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1021/acsaem.3c00356

Cite this

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title = "Metal Oxide Interlayers Enable Lower-Cost Electrodes in PbS QD Solar Cells",

abstract = "PbS quantum dots (QDs) are an emerging light-absorbing material for thin-film solar cells. However, state-of-the-art solar cell architectures rely on a gold electrode, which raises material costs to 3× more than the 2030 US DOE SunShot target module price. Here, we enable both aluminum and copper electrodes to replace gold through a NiOx interlayer. An additional indium tin oxide (ITO) buffer layer between the NiOx interlayer and electrode further enables longer shelf lifetimes. By combining these layers, we lower electrode material costs in PbS QD solar cells by a factor of 130000 without compromising power conversion efficiency or stability.",

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doi = "10.1021/acsaem.3c00356",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

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T1 - Metal Oxide Interlayers Enable Lower-Cost Electrodes in PbS QD Solar Cells

AU - Wassweiler, Ella L.

AU - Sponseller, Melany

AU - Osherov, Anna

AU - Jean, Joel

AU - Bawendi, Moungi G.

AU - Bulovic, Vladimir

PY - 2023/6/12

Y1 - 2023/6/12

N2 - PbS quantum dots (QDs) are an emerging light-absorbing material for thin-film solar cells. However, state-of-the-art solar cell architectures rely on a gold electrode, which raises material costs to 3× more than the 2030 US DOE SunShot target module price. Here, we enable both aluminum and copper electrodes to replace gold through a NiOx interlayer. An additional indium tin oxide (ITO) buffer layer between the NiOx interlayer and electrode further enables longer shelf lifetimes. By combining these layers, we lower electrode material costs in PbS QD solar cells by a factor of 130000 without compromising power conversion efficiency or stability.

AB - PbS quantum dots (QDs) are an emerging light-absorbing material for thin-film solar cells. However, state-of-the-art solar cell architectures rely on a gold electrode, which raises material costs to 3× more than the 2030 US DOE SunShot target module price. Here, we enable both aluminum and copper electrodes to replace gold through a NiOx interlayer. An additional indium tin oxide (ITO) buffer layer between the NiOx interlayer and electrode further enables longer shelf lifetimes. By combining these layers, we lower electrode material costs in PbS QD solar cells by a factor of 130000 without compromising power conversion efficiency or stability.

KW - low-cost electrodes

KW - nickel oxide

KW - PbS quantum dots

KW - photovoltaics

KW - thin-film solar cells

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ER -

Metal Oxide Interlayers Enable Lower-Cost Electrodes in PbS QD Solar Cells

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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