All-Inorganic p−n Heterojunction Solar Cells by Solution Combustion Synthesis Using N-type FeMnO3 Perovskite Photoactive Layer

Abstract

This study outlines the synthesis and physicochemical characteristics of a solution-processable iron manganite (FeMnO 3 ) nanoparticles via a chemical combustion method using tartaric acid as a fuel whilst demonstrating the performance of this material as a n-type photoactive layer in all-oxide solar cells. It is shown that the solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method enables the formation of pure crystal phase FeMnO 3 with controllable particle size. XRD pattern and morphology images from TEM confirm the purity of FeMnO 3 phase and the relatively small crystallite size (∼13 nm), firstly reported in the literature. Moreover, to assemble a network of connected FeMnO 3 nanoparticles, β -alanine was used as a capping agent and dimethylformamide (DMF) as a polar aprotic solvent for the colloidal dispersion of FeMnO 3 NPs. This procedure yields a ∼500 nm thick FeMnO 3 n-type photoactive layer. The proposed method is crucial to obtain functional solution processed NiO/FeMnO 3 heterojunction inorganic photovoltaics. Photovoltaic performance and solar cell device limitations of the NiO/FeMnO 3 -based heterojunction solar cells are presented.