Enhanced optoelectronic coupling for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells

Erkan Aydin, Esma Ugur, Bumin Kağan Yıldırım, Thomas Allen, Pia Dally, Arsalan Razzaq, Fangfang Cao, Lujia Xu, Badri Vishal, Aren Yazmaciyan, Ahmed Said, Shynggys Zhumagali, Randi Azmi, Maxime Babics, Andreas Fell, Chuanxiao Xiao, Stefaan De Wolf

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

158 Scopus citations

Abstract

Monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells are of great appeal as they promise high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) at affordable cost. In state-of-the-art tandems, the perovskite top cell is electrically coupled to a silicon heterojunction bottom cell via a self-assembled monolayer (SAM), anchored on a transparent conductive oxide (TCO), which enables efficient charge transfer between the subcells.1-3 Yet, reproducible high-performance tandem solar cells require energetically homogenous SAM coverage, which remains challenging, especially on textured silicon bottom cells. Here, we resolve this issue by employing ultrathin (5 nm) amorphous indium zinc oxide (IZO) as the interconnecting TCO, exploiting its high surface-potential homogeneity resulting from the absence of crystal grains, and higher density of SAM anchoring sites when compared to commonly employed crystalline TCOs. Combined with optical enhancements via equally thin IZO rear electrodes and improved front contact stacks, an independently certified PCE of 32.5% was obtained, which ranks amongst the highest for perovskite/silicon tandems. Our ultrathin transparent contact approach reduces indium consumption by approximately 80%, which is of importance towards sustainable PV manufacturing.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalNature
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 28 2023

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2023-10-03
Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): CRG2019-4093, IED OSR-2019-4208, IED OSR-2019-4580, IED OSR-2020-4611, OSR-2020-CPF-4519, OSR-2021-4833, OSR-CARF/CCF-3079, OSR-CRG2020-4350
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) under award nos. OSR-2021-4833, OSR-CARF/CCF-3079, IED OSR-2020-4611, IED OSR-2019-4580, OSR-CRG2020-4350, OSR-2020-CPF-4519, OSR CRG2019-4093, and IED OSR-2019-4208. We acknowledge the use of the KAUST Solar Center and KAUST Core Lab facilities and support from Atteq ur Rehman, Shruti Sarwade, and Anil Pininti for their contribution either to the development or fabrication of silicon bottom cells. We thank to Suzana Kralj and Monica Morales-Masis for the insightful discussions on TCOs, KPFM analysis, and SAMs coverage. Fig. 4a was created by Heno Hwang, a scientific illustrator at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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