Efficient Bifacial Passivation with Crosslinked Thioctic Acid for High-Performance Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite Solar Cells.

Defects, inevitably produced within bulk and at perovskite-transport layer interfaces (PTLIs), are detrimental to power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). It is demonstrated that a crosslinkable organic small molecule thioctic acid (TA), which can simultaneously be chemically anchored to the surface of TiO and methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI ) through coordination effects and then in situ crosslinked to form a robust continuous polymer (Poly(TA)) network after thermal treatment, can be introduced into PSCs as a new bifacial passivation agent for greatly passivating the defects. It is also discovered that Poly(TA) can additionally enhance the charge extraction efficiency and the water-resisting and light-resisting abilities of perovskite film.

Goethite Quantum Dots as Multifunctional Additives for Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Minimization of defects and ion migration in organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite films is desirable for obtaining photovoltaic devices with high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and long-term stability. However, achieving this target is still a challenge due to the lack of efficient multifunctional passivators. Herein, to address this issue, n-type goethite (FeOOH) quantum dots (QDs) are introduced into the perovskite light-absorption layer for achieving efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs).

Thiazole-Induced Surface Passivation and Recrystallization of CHNHPbI Films for Perovskite Solar Cells with Ultrahigh Fill Factors.

The quality of perovskite films is a crucial factor governing the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells. However, perovskite films fabricated by the conventional one-step spin-coating procedure are far from ideal due to uncontrollable crystal growth. Herein, we report a facile recrystallization procedure using a thiazole additive coupled with vapor annealing to simultaneously modulate the perovskite crystal growth and suppress the surface defects.

Carbon nanotube aerogel-CoS hybrid catalytic counter electrodes for enhanced photovoltaic performance dye-sensitized solar cells.

The carbon nanotube aerogel (CNA) with an ultra-low density, three-dimensional network nanostructure, superior electronic conductivity and large surface area is being widely employed as a catalytic electrode and catalytic support. Impressively, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) assembled with a CNA counter electrode (CE) achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.28%, which exceeded that of the conventional platinum (Pt)-based DSSC (7.

Photocatalytic activity of attapulgite-TiO-AgPO ternary nanocomposite for degradation of Rhodamine B under simulated solar irradiation.

An excellent ternary composite photocatalyst consisting of silver orthophosphate (AgPO), attapulgite (ATP), and TiO was synthesized, in which heterojunction was formed between dissimilar semiconductors to promote the separation of photo-generated charges. The ATP/TiO/AgPO composite was characterized by SEM, XRD, and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The co-deposition of AgPO and TiO nanoparticles onto the surface of ATP forms a lath-particle structure.

Enhanced Electron Collection in Perovskite Solar Cells Employing Thermoelectric NaCo O /TiO Coaxial Nanofibers.

Thermoelectric NaCo O /TiO coaxial nanofibers are prepared and distributed in the perovskite solar cells. Under illumination, p-type NaCo O can convert unwanted heat to thermal voltage, and thus promote the electron extraction and transport with the action of electrostatic force. These advantages collectively contribute to an overall power conversion efficiency improvement of ≈20% (15.

Improved Thermoelectric Performances of SrTiO3 Ceramic Doped with Nb by Surface Modification of Nanosized Titania.

Nb-doped SrTiO3 ceramics doped with the surface modification of nanosized titania was prepared via liquid phase deposition approach and subsequent sintered in an Ar atmosphere. The surface modification of nanosized titania significantly improved the ratio of the electrical conductivity to thermal conductivity of SrTiO3 ceramic doped with Nb, and has little impact on the Seebeck coefficient, thus obviously improving the dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT value). The surface modification of nanosized titania is a much better method to lower the thermal conductivity and to enhance the electrical conductivity than the mechanical mixing process of nanosized titania.

Comparative study of vapor- and solution-crystallized perovskite for planar heterojunction solar cells.

Organometal halide perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) could be crystallized by exposing PbI2 to either CH3NH3I solution or CH3NH3I vapor. Though high performance was achieved in both approaches, it was still not clear which approach would be more desirable for device performance in principle. Herein, we addressed this issue by investigating the influence of crystallization condition on perovskite morphology, and subsequently on device performances.

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of Nb-doped SrTiO3 by nano-inclusion with low thermal conductivity.

Authors reported an effective path to increase the electrical conductivity while to decrease the thermal conductivity, and thus to enhance the ZT value by nano-inclusions. By this method, the ZT value of Nb-doped SrTiO3 was enhanced 9-fold by yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) nano-inclusions. YSZ inclusions, located inside grain and in triple junction, can reduce the thermal conductivity by effective interface phonon scattering, enhance the electrical conductivity by promoting the abnormal grain growth, and thus lead to the obvious enhancement of ZT value, which strongly suggests that, it is possible to not only reduce the thermal conductivity, but also increase the electrical conductivity by nano-inclusions with low thermal conductivity.