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  • Reduction of moisture sensi...
    Martín-García, Beatriz; Bi, Yu; Prato, Mirko; Spirito, Davide; Krahne, Roman; Konstantatos, Gerasimos; Moreels, Iwan

    Solar energy materials & solar cells/Solar energy materials and solar cells, 08/2018, Volume: 183
    Journal Article

    PbS nanocrystals are an important narrow-gap material for solar cells and photodetectors. Nevertheless, their application may be limited because device performance can be affected by atmospheric conditions. Indeed, the presence of oxygen and/or water can degrade the active layers, possibly leading to device failure. Strategies to address this issue are therefore actively explored. Here we report a solution-processed PbS quantum dot solar cell, consisting of a PbS-silane functionalized reduced graphene oxide (PbS-rGO) layer on top of the PbS absorber film, which enhances device stability, especially when the solar cells are exposed to moisture. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) measurements demonstrate a slower degradation under continuous illumination for solar cells with PbS-rGO. When storing the samples under saturated water vapor, differences are even more remarkable: with PbS-rGO the solar cells essentially maintain their initial PCE, while the PCE of the PbS reference devices is reduced by 50% after 5 days. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveal the damage to the PbS films and the formation of PbSOx crystals in the PbS reference devices. Such crystals are not observed in the PbS-rGO devices, further supporting the importance of the PbS-rGO barrier layer. Display omitted •We present a solution-processed strategy integrating rGO in PbS solar cells.•We improved long-term stability using rGO, especially at 100% relative humidity.•rGO suppresses the moisture-induced damage to the PbS absorber layer.