Compositional Engineering of Lead-Free Perovskite-Inspired Materials for Photovoltaics

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Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Sähkötekniikan korkeakoulu | Master's thesis

Date

2023-08-21

Department

Major/Subject

Photonics and Nanotechnology

Mcode

ELEC3052

Degree programme

Master’s Programme in Electronics and Nanotechnology (TS2013)

Language

en

Pages

75

Series

Abstract

The increasing energy demand and need to mitigate climate change have driven the search for renewable energy sources. Solar energy, particularly photovoltaics, has emerged as a promising solution, owing to its abundance and versatility. While silicon-based solar cells currently dominate the market, perovskite materials have gained attention as cost-effective alternatives with a tunable bandgap that allows the absorption of light from a wider spectrum. However, the toxicity of lead in perovskite compositions necessitates the development of lead-free alternatives. In this context, this thesis focuses on improving solar cells based on Cu2AgBiI6 (CABI), a wide-bandgap lead-free perovskite-inspired material (PIM), by doping it at the A-site. Various organic and inorganic cations are considered as potential dopants, and their effects on the structural, optical, and morphological properties of CABI thin films are investigated. The doped CABI films are then used to fabricate and characterize solar cell devices. The results demonstrate that doping concentrations up to 5% can improve the film quality and device performance, but higher concentrations introduce impurities and adverse effects. This study provides insights into the potential of A-site doping in CABI and offers guidance for optimizing device performance. Further research should explore alternative dopants and characterization techniques to enhance our understanding and advance the field of PIMs-based photovoltaics. Ultimately, these efforts will contribute to the development of efficient and environmentally friendly solar energy conversion technologies.

Description

Supervisor

Soldano, Caterina

Thesis advisor

Vivo, Paola

Keywords

photovoltaics, perovskites, lead-free, doping

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