Inorganic Hole Conducting Layers for Perovskite-Based Solar Cells

Abstract

Hybrid organic–inorganic semiconducting perovskite photovoltaic cells are usually coupled with organic hole conductors. Here, we report planar, inverse CH₃NH₃PbI_3–<i>x</i>Cl_<i>x</i>-based cells with inorganic hole conductors. Using electrodeposited NiO as hole conductor, we have achieved a power conversion efficiency of 7.3%. The maximum <i>V</i>_OC obtained was 935 mV with an average <i>V</i>_OC value being 785 mV. Preliminary results for similar cells using electrodeposited CuSCN as hole conductor resulted in devices up to 3.8% in efficiency. The ability to obtain promising cells using NiO and CuSCN expands the presently rather limited range of available hole conductors for perovskite cells