With the aim of decreasing the number of experiments to obtain a perovskite solar cell (PSC) with maximum theoretical efficiency, in this paper, PSC performance was studied using the program solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D). The PSC with the architecture ITO/TiO₂/perovskite/spiro-MeOTAD/Au was investigated, while the selected perovskite was mixed cation Rb_0.05Cs_0.1FA_0.85PbI₃. The analysis was based on an experimentally prepared solar cell with a power conversion efficiency of ~7%. The PSC performance, verified by short-circuit current density (J_sc), open-circuit voltage (V_oc), fill factor (FF) and power conversion efficiency (PCE), was studied by optimization of the simulation parameters responsible for improvement of the cell operation. The optimized parameters were absorber layer thickness, doping, defect concentration and the influence of the resistivity (the net effect of ohmic loss, R_s and the leakage current loss represented by the resistivity, R_shunt). The results of SCAPS-1D simulations estimated the theoretical power conversion efficiency of 15% for our material. We have showed that the main contribution to improvement of solar cell efficiency comes with lowering ohmic resistivity of the cell as well as doping and defect concentration, because their concentration is proportional to recombination rate.

Perovskite solar cells with a planar p-i-n device structure offer easy processability at low temperatures, suitable for roll-to-roll fabrication on flexible substrates. Herein we investigate different hole transport layers (solution processed NiO_x, sputtered NiO_x, PEDOT:PSS) in planar p-i-n perovskite solar cells using the triple cation lead halide perovskite Cs_0.08(MA_0.17FA_0.83)_0.92Pb(I_0.83Br_0.17)₃ as absorber layer. Overall, reproducible solar cell performances with power conversion efficiencies up to 12.8% were obtained using solution processed NiO_x as hole transport layer in the devices. Compared to that, devices with PEDOT:PSS as hole transport layer yield efficiencies of approx. 8.4%. Further improvement of the fill factor was achieved by the use of an additional zinc oxide nanoparticle layer between the PC₆₀BM film and the Ag electrode.

Lead halide perovskites have proved to be exceptionally efficient absorber materials for photovoltaics. Besides improving the properties of the perovskite absorbers, device engineering and the optimization of interfaces will be equally important to further the advancement of this emerging solar cell technology. Herein, we report a successful modification of the interface between the NiO_x hole transport layer and the perovskite absorber layer using 4-bromobenzylphosphonic acid based self-assembled monolayers leading to an improved photovoltaic performance. The modification of the NiO_x layer is carried out by dip coating which allows sufficient time for the self-assembly. The change in the surface free energy and the non-polar nature of the resulting surface is corroborated by contact angle measurements. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms the presence of phosphor and bromine on the NiO_x surface. Furthermore, the resultant solar cells reveal increased photovoltage. For typical devices without and with modification, the photovoltage improves from 0.978 V to 1.029 V. The champion V_OC observed was 1.099 V. The increment in photovoltage leads to improved power conversion efficiencies for the modified cells. The maximum power point tracking measurements of the devices show stable power output of the solar cells.

This study highlights various fluorescent and colorimetric organic sensors for detection of group 10 metal ions. Existing receptor design issues, challenges and promising development prospects are presented.