SnO₂ Thin Films Prepared by APCVD for Organic Solar Cells Application

Abstract:

Abstract: The amelioration of the efficiency of photovoltaic conversion in organic solar cells can be obtained by minimizing losses in reflection and absorption in the transparent electrode/active layer interface involving increased absorption efficiency in the active layer which can be achieved by the use of TCOs with special optical and electrical properties. Tin oxide SnO2 thin films have been prepared by APCVD method using the SnCl2 as a starting material. The surface morphology of the films deposited on glass substrates were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).The ellipsometry was used to determinate the refractive index for the films deposited at 480°C and the -sheet resistance was measured using the Four-Point probe. Transmittance of SnO2 films deposited on ITO was measured by UV-visible spectroscopy. SnO2 films prepared during 11 minutes present a sheet resistance of 19.57 Ωcm-2, transmittance higher than 80% and refractive index of 1.75 can be used as interfacial layer in organic solar cells application to minimize the reflectivity. The total reflectivity of SnO2/P3HT: PCBM obtained by using these films is less than 3%. SnO2 films can also be used as interfacial layers in inverted solar cells application.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 685)
• Pages: 166-173
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.685.166
• Online since: April 2013
• Authors: Djedjiga Hatem, Mohammed Said Belkaid
• Keywords: APCVD, Conductive Transparent Oxide, Inverted Solar Cells, SnO₂

References

[1] J.Y. Kim et al, Efficient tandem polymer solar cells fabricated by all solution processing, Science Vol. 317 no. 5835,(2007), pp.222-225.

DOI: 10.1126/science.1141711

[2] Y. Liang et al, For the bright future bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells with power conversion efficiency of 7.4%, Advanced Materials,Vol. 22, (2010), E135–E138.

[3] S.K. Hau et al, A review on the development of the inverted polymer solar cell architecture, Polymer Reviews, Vol. 50, (2010), p.474–510.

DOI: 10.1080/15583724.2010.515764

[4] M .Al-lbrahim, O. Ambacher, Effects of solvent and annealing on the improved performance of solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene): Fullerene, Appl.Phys. Lett. 86, (2005), 201120

DOI: 10.1063/1.1929875

[5] Z. Zhang, S. M. Zakeeruddin, B. C. O'Regan, R. Humphry-Baker and M. Gra1tzel, Influence of 4-Guanidinobutyric Acid as Coadsorbent in Reducing Recombination in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, J. Phys. Chem., B.109, (2005), p.21818 – 21824.

DOI: 10.1021/jp054305h

[6] A. Heilig, N. Barsan, U. Weimar and W. Göpel, Selectivity Enhancement of SnO2 Gas Sensors: Simultaneous Monitoring of Resistances and Temperatures, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, Vol. 58,N°1-3, (1999), p.302 – 309.

DOI: 10.1016/s0925-4005(99)00091-x

[7] E. Dien, J.M. Laurent and A. Smith, Comparison of Optical and Electrical Characteristics of SnO2-Based Thin Films Deposited by Pyrosol from Different Tin Precursors, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, Vol. 19, N°6-7, (1999), p.787 – 789.

DOI: 10.1016/s0955-2219(98)00313-6

[8] J.S, Chen, W.T. Lo and J.L. Huang, Gas Sensitivity of Reactively Sputtered SnO2 Films, Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, Vol.110, No.1277, (2002), pp.18-21.

DOI: 10.2109/jcersj.110.18

[9] T.H. Fanga, W.J. Chang, Nanomechanical characteristics of SnO2:F thin films deposited by chemical vapor deposition Annales de Chimie Science des Matériaux, Vol. 23, No 1, (1998), pp.355-358(4).

DOI: 10.1016/s0151-9107(98)80091-3

[10] W.K. Man, H. Yan, S.P. Wong, I.H. Wilson and T.K.S. Wong, Grain Size and Hillock Growth of Vacuum-Evaporated SnO2 Thin Films, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, Vol. A14, N°3, (1996), p.1593 – 1597.

DOI: 10.1116/1.580302

[11] C. Terrier, J.P. Chatelon and J.P. Rojer, Electrical and Optical Properties of Sb:SnO2 Thin Films Obtained by the Sol-Gel Method, Thin Solid Films, Vol. 295, N°1-2, (1997), pp.95-100.

DOI: 10.1016/s0040-6090(96)09324-8