Silica as a Scaffold Layer via Electrospray for MAPbI₃ Perovskite-based Solar Cell

We synthesized a novel hybridized perovskite-silica (SiO₂) solar cell using an electrospray process under ambient conditions. The Silica scaffold not only provided optical transmission from visible to infrared regions but also blocked the back flow transport of the holes and electrons to reach the electrodes, leading to reduced charge recombination. Moreover, the CH₃NH₃PbI₃ (MAPbI₃) film quality can be improved by using the combination of vacuum annealing enhanced crystal growth and the methylamine (CH₃NH₂, MA) vapor-assisted diffusion at the grain boundaries, due to reduced surface roughness and the re-crystallization of the MAPbI₃ film. Photovoltaic performances were evaluated using the glass/ITO/poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrene-sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/SiO₂/MAPbI₃/C₆₀/BCP/Al device structure, with the champion MAPbI₃ based perovskite-silica solar cell exhibited a short-circuit current density of 19.89 mA/cm², an open-circuit voltage of 0.89 V, a fill factor of 0.50, and a power conversion efficiency of 8.85%.