Fabrication and Characterization of Perovskite Solar Cells Using Metal Phthalocyanines and Naphthalocyanines

Fabrication and characterization based on experimental results for methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) perovskite solar cells using chemical-substituted metal phthalocyanines (MPc) and naphthalocyanines (MNc) as hole-transport materials have been performed to improve conversion efficiency (<i>η</i>) and stability. The purpose of this study was to fabricate and characterize a MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cell using <i>t</i>-butyl MPc and MNc as a hole-transporting layer to improve the photovoltaic performance and stability of <i>η</i>. Photovoltaic characteristics, morphology, crystallinity, and electronic structures were characterized in perovskite solar cells using MPc and MNc. The photovoltaic performance of the perovskite solar cell using <i>t</i>-butyl nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc) reached the maximum value of <i>η</i> at 13.4%. Incorporation of NiPc passivated the surface morphology by increasing the crystal grain size and supporting the carrier diffusion while suppressing carrier recombination near the grain boundary in the perovskite layer. Simulation using a SCAPS-1D program predicted the photovoltaic characteristics of the perovskite solar cell using NiPc. The photovoltaic mechanism was discussed on the basis of an energy diagram of the perovskite solar cell. The insertion of NiPc optimized energy levels near the highest occupied molecular orbital of NiPc and the valence band state of MAPbI₃, supporting a charge transfer related to short-circuit current density and <i>η</i>.