Investigation of perovskite layer growth from solution on textured substrates

Abstract

Surface textures are indispensable to minimize optical losses in perovskite-based solar cells. However, the solution-processing of perovskite layers is often not compatible with textured substrates, and little is known about the film growth thereon. This study aims to elucidate the growth process of perovskite layers from solution on textured substrates and to identify the texture features ensuring compatibility with perovskite solution-processing. Using nanoimprint-lithography we prepared three different periodically as well as randomly textured glass substrates for spin-coated perovskite solar cells, of which one was duplicated from a commercially available texture. During the perovskite crystallization process, a time-resolved in situ photoluminescence measurement was conducted. The photoluminescence signal was not found to substantially alter using textured substrates with texture heights around 500 nm. Optical absorptance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopic imaging were applied to investigate the growth, crystal structure, and optical properties of solution-processed perovskite on top of different textures. We find that periodic textures with height around 500 nm enable homogeneous solution-processed perovskite layers with optimized optical performance. In contrast, texture heights of several micrometers lead to macroscopic holes in the perovskite film. The results of this study will help to find optimum optical textures for high-efficiency perovskite single-junction and perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells.