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Photo-stability of perovskite solar cells with Cu electrode

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Abstract

Towards higher stability of perovskite solar cells, Cu has been observed to be more suitable electrode material compared to conventional Al and Ag electrodes. The photo-stability of such devices has not been explored much in the literature, therefore we present here the investigation carried out towards the photo-stability of PSCs based on top Cu electrodes. The PSCs were prepared in normal geometry and stored in dark, under continuous illumination of a white LED lamp inside the laboratory and under direct sunlight outside the laboratory and tested as per the international summit on organic photovoltaics stability protocols. In dark storage the encapsulated solar cells exhibited highest stability but under illumination they exhibited degradation in their performance and the degradation was fastest in the direct sunlight. Degradation under illumination has been attributed to the photo-oxidation of the perovskite film. Cu has been observed to diffuse into and react with the underlying perovskite film and the ultraviolet and infrared contents in direct sunlight accelerated the photo-oxidation and chemical reactions between Cu and perovskite film. The chemical reactions of Cu electrode with perovskite constituents made it disappear after some time. These investigations suggest that Cu too is not a very stable electrode material for PSCs under natural operating conditions.

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Acknowledgements

The financial support by CSIR-India through CSIR-YSA research Grant No. (OLP-163332) is greatly acknowledged. Thanks are due to Dr. N. Vijayan and Mr. M. Saravanan of CSIR-NPL for XRD measurements and recording the SEM images of the films respectively. AKC is also thankful to CSIR, India for providing him the financial support through its Senior Research Fellowship.

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  1. Advanced Materials and Devices Metrology Division, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Dr. K. S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Abhishek K. Chauhan & Pankaj Kumar

  2. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India

    Abhishek K. Chauhan & Pankaj Kumar

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Chauhan, A.K., Kumar, P. Photo-stability of perovskite solar cells with Cu electrode. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 30, 9582–9592 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-01292-2

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