Gas-Assisted Spray Fabrication of Reticulated TiO<sub>2</sub> Scaffolds for Perovskite Solar Applications
This study presents a systematic approach to engineering the electron transport layer (ETL) in perovskite solar cells using a spray deposition technique to fabricate sequentially compact and mesoporous titanium dioxide (c-TiO<sub>2</sub>, m-TiO<sub>2</sub>) films. The spray c...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/6/685 |
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| author | Sana Handor Andrei Gabriel Tomulescu Viorica Stancu Abdelati Razouk Aurelian Catalin Galca Lucia Nicoleta Leonat |
| author_facet | Sana Handor Andrei Gabriel Tomulescu Viorica Stancu Abdelati Razouk Aurelian Catalin Galca Lucia Nicoleta Leonat |
| author_sort | Sana Handor |
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| description | This study presents a systematic approach to engineering the electron transport layer (ETL) in perovskite solar cells using a spray deposition technique to fabricate sequentially compact and mesoporous titanium dioxide (c-TiO<sub>2</sub>, m-TiO<sub>2</sub>) films. The spray coating method leads to the development of a distinct reticulated morphology characterized by well-defined wavy-like surface features and significantly increased roughness—at least twice that of spin-coated mesoporous films. The increased interfacial area between the mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub> and the perovskite layer facilitates more efficient charge transfer, contributing to higher device performance. By optimizing the deposition parameters, particularly the number of spray cycles for the m-TiO<sub>2</sub> layer, we achieve a significant enhancement in device performance, with improvements in power conversion efficiency (PCE), reduced series resistance, and minimized hysteresis. Our results demonstrate that an optimal film thickness promotes better perovskite anchoring, while excessive deposition impedes light transmission and increases sheet resistance. These findings advance the practical fabrication of high-performance perovskite solar cells using simple solution-processing techniques and highlights the potential of scalable spray deposition methods for industrial-scale fabrication. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj-art-202bc4924c7a4017ba46a08b13daa98c2025-06-25T14:11:39ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2025-06-0116668510.3390/mi16060685Gas-Assisted Spray Fabrication of Reticulated TiO<sub>2</sub> Scaffolds for Perovskite Solar ApplicationsSana Handor0Andrei Gabriel Tomulescu1Viorica Stancu2Abdelati Razouk3Aurelian Catalin Galca4Lucia Nicoleta Leonat5Laboratory of Energetic Engineering and Materials, Science and Technology Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal 23000, MoroccoNational Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor 405A, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor 405A, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaLaboratory of Energetic Engineering and Materials, Science and Technology Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal 23000, MoroccoNational Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor 405A, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor 405A, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaThis study presents a systematic approach to engineering the electron transport layer (ETL) in perovskite solar cells using a spray deposition technique to fabricate sequentially compact and mesoporous titanium dioxide (c-TiO<sub>2</sub>, m-TiO<sub>2</sub>) films. The spray coating method leads to the development of a distinct reticulated morphology characterized by well-defined wavy-like surface features and significantly increased roughness—at least twice that of spin-coated mesoporous films. The increased interfacial area between the mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub> and the perovskite layer facilitates more efficient charge transfer, contributing to higher device performance. By optimizing the deposition parameters, particularly the number of spray cycles for the m-TiO<sub>2</sub> layer, we achieve a significant enhancement in device performance, with improvements in power conversion efficiency (PCE), reduced series resistance, and minimized hysteresis. Our results demonstrate that an optimal film thickness promotes better perovskite anchoring, while excessive deposition impedes light transmission and increases sheet resistance. These findings advance the practical fabrication of high-performance perovskite solar cells using simple solution-processing techniques and highlights the potential of scalable spray deposition methods for industrial-scale fabrication.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/6/685spray coatingmesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub>reticulated structureperovskite solar cells |
| spellingShingle | Sana Handor Andrei Gabriel Tomulescu Viorica Stancu Abdelati Razouk Aurelian Catalin Galca Lucia Nicoleta Leonat Gas-Assisted Spray Fabrication of Reticulated TiO<sub>2</sub> Scaffolds for Perovskite Solar Applications Micromachines spray coating mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub> reticulated structure perovskite solar cells |
| title | Gas-Assisted Spray Fabrication of Reticulated TiO<sub>2</sub> Scaffolds for Perovskite Solar Applications |
| title_full | Gas-Assisted Spray Fabrication of Reticulated TiO<sub>2</sub> Scaffolds for Perovskite Solar Applications |
| title_fullStr | Gas-Assisted Spray Fabrication of Reticulated TiO<sub>2</sub> Scaffolds for Perovskite Solar Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gas-Assisted Spray Fabrication of Reticulated TiO<sub>2</sub> Scaffolds for Perovskite Solar Applications |
| title_short | Gas-Assisted Spray Fabrication of Reticulated TiO<sub>2</sub> Scaffolds for Perovskite Solar Applications |
| title_sort | gas assisted spray fabrication of reticulated tio sub 2 sub scaffolds for perovskite solar applications |
| topic | spray coating mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub> reticulated structure perovskite solar cells |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/6/685 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sanahandor gasassistedsprayfabricationofreticulatedtiosub2subscaffoldsforperovskitesolarapplications AT andreigabrieltomulescu gasassistedsprayfabricationofreticulatedtiosub2subscaffoldsforperovskitesolarapplications AT vioricastancu gasassistedsprayfabricationofreticulatedtiosub2subscaffoldsforperovskitesolarapplications AT abdelatirazouk gasassistedsprayfabricationofreticulatedtiosub2subscaffoldsforperovskitesolarapplications AT aureliancatalingalca gasassistedsprayfabricationofreticulatedtiosub2subscaffoldsforperovskitesolarapplications AT lucianicoletaleonat gasassistedsprayfabricationofreticulatedtiosub2subscaffoldsforperovskitesolarapplications |