Effect of Acesulfame Potassium Modified SnO2 Electron Transport Layer on Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells

doi:10.15541/jim20250018

Abstract

Abstract:

Oxygen vacancy defects at the surface and grain boundaries of tin dioxide (SnO₂), an electron transport layer (ETL) material for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), can induce non-radiative recombination, thereby limiting further improvements in device efficiency. This study proposes a low-cost and efficient strategy for modifying the ETL using acesulfame potassium (ACE-K). The results demonstrated that the C=O and S=O groups in ACE-K molecules interact with the undercoordinated Sn⁴⁺ on the SnO₂ surface, significantly passivating the oxygen vacancy defects in SnO₂. Electrical conductivity of the film increased from 4.60×10^-6 S·cm^-1 to 6.23×10^-6 S·cm^-1. Moreover, ACE-K modification improved roughness (from 20.6 nm to 14.0 nm) and wettability of the SnO₂ film, providing a better substrate for perovskite film growth. Consequently, the perovskite films grown on this optimized ETL enlarged grain sizes from 970.90 nm to 1071.20 nm and enhanced light absorption capability. Space-charge-limited current (SCLC) measurements revealed that the defect density decreased from 4.84×10¹⁶ cm^-3 to 3.83×10¹⁶ cm^-3, while electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed a significant suppression of non-radiative recombination during charge carrier transport. Ultimately, power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSCs improved from 19.27% to 21.60%. In addition, unpackaged ACE-K modified PSCs maintained 91.67% of initial PCE after 2160 h stored in N₂, showing excellent long term stability.

Key words: tin dioxide, perovskite solar cell, modification, defect passivation, acesulfame potassium

CLC Number:

TM914

HU Qinghao, LIU Xingchong, PENG Yongshan, HOU Mengjun, HE Tanggui, TANG Anmin. Effect of Acesulfame Potassium Modified SnO₂ Electron Transport Layer on Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(11): 1261-1267.

Figures/Tables 15

Fig. 1 (a) Molecular structure and (b) ESP diagram of ACE-K

Fig. 2 (a) Sn3d XPS spectra, (b) O1s XPS spectra and (c) FT-IR spectra (500-2000 cm-1) of SnO2-ETL and 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-ETL

Fig. 3 SEM images of SnO2-Pf and xACE-K-SnO2-Pf

Fig. 4 (a) XRD patterns and (b) UV-Vis absorption spectra of SnO2-Pf and 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-Pf

Fig. 5 (a) PL curves and (b) TRPL curves of SnO2-Pf and 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-Pf; (c) EIS spectra and (d) SCLC curves of SnO2-PSCs and 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-PSCs

Fig. 6 Conductivities of SnO2-ETL and 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-ETL

Table 1 Photovoltaic parameters of champion xACE-K-SnO2-PSCs

x	V_OC/V	J_SC/(mA·cm^-2)	PCE/%	FF/%
0	1.112	22.85	19.27	75.90
0.05	1.127	23.84	20.68	77.00
0.1	1.128	24.32	20.87	76.10
0.2	1.135	23.97	21.60	79.30
0.4	1.129	23.71	20.72	77.40

Fig. 7 (a) J-V curves and (b) EQE curves of SnO2-PSCs and 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-PSCs Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 8 (a) Current stability curves during 100 s, (b) long-term stability curves and (c) humidity stability curves of SnO2-PSCs and 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-PSCs

Table S1 Fitting data for EIS curves

Sample	R_s/Ω	R_ct/Ω	R_rec/Ω	C₁/(×10^-9, F)	C₂/(×10^-8, F)
SnO₂-PSCs	23.3	53972	136090	5.0	8.52
0.2ACE-K-SnO₂-PSCs	17.79	38465	154690	3.96	6.7

Fig. S1 EDS plots of (a) SnO2-ETL and (b) 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-ETL

Fig. S2 AFM images of (a) SnO2-ETL and (b) 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-ETL

Fig. S3 Water contact angle test charts of SnO2-ETL and 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-ETL

Fig. S4 Grain size statistics of (a) SnO2-Pf and (b) 0.2ACE-K-SnO2-Pf

Fig. S5 PCE box plots of xACE-K-SnO2-PSCs

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Effect of Acesulfame Potassium Modified SnO₂ Electron Transport Layer on Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells

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