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Influences of electron transport layer thickness on functional characteristics of Formamidinium lead iodide featured with silver back contact solar cell

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Published/Copyright: January 15, 2026
Pure and Applied Chemistry
From the journal Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract

This study investigates how different thicknesses of the electron transport layer (ETL) impact the performance of Formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) solar cells with a silver back contact. The solar cell structure includes a 200 nm-thick fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) window layer, a Formamidinium lead iodide layer for light absorption, and a tin(IV) oxide (SnO2) layer serving as the ETL, with thicknesses of 5, 10, 15, and 20 nm. Using the spin-coating method with anti-solvent treatment, followed by annealing at 400 °C, solar cells were fabricated with and without the SnO2-perovskite absorber. Results show that the ETL thickness significantly affects key performance parameters, including charge transport, recombination, and overall efficiency. The perovskite solar cells featuring with 20 nm SnO2 layer have a crystallite size of 40.1 nm. It also shows the lowest transmittance at 45 % and the highest absorption coefficient at 7.5 × 104 per cm. This material also has the highest refractive index of 2.2, the best conductivity of 0.55 × 10−2 S/cm, and the lowest resistivity at 1.82 × 102 Ω cm. Moreover, the optical band gap decreases to 1.52 eV, resulting in a higher short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 23.5 mA/cm2 and an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.2 V. An optimum performance of perovskite solar cells featuring 20 nm SnO2 is recommended for solar cell applications.

Keywords: conductivity; electron transport layer; Formamidinium Lead Halide; optical properties; perovskite solar cell; resistivity
Corresponding author: Venkatesh Rathinavelu, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, SIMATS, Chennai, 602105, Tamil Nadu, India, e-mail:

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: None declared.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2025-10-30
Accepted: 2026-01-05
Published Online: 2026-01-15

© 2026 IUPAC & De Gruyter

https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2025-0657
Keywords for this article
conductivity; electron transport layer; Formamidinium Lead Halide; optical properties; perovskite solar cell; resistivity
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