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Optimized surface engineering of zinc oxide thin films for enhanced performance of MAPbI3 perovskite layers.

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Title: Optimized surface engineering of zinc oxide thin films for enhanced performance of MAPbI3 perovskite layers.
Authors: Muniandy, Subathra1 (AUTHOR) p122410006@student.utem.edu.my, Idris, Muhammad Idzdihar Bin1 (AUTHOR) idzdihar@utem.edu.my, Napiah, Zul Atfyi Fauzan Bin Mohammed1 (AUTHOR) zulatfyi@utem.edu.my, Baharudin, Zarina1 (AUTHOR) zarina@utem.edu.my, Rashid, Marzaini2 (AUTHOR) marzaini@usm.my
Source: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics. Jan2026, Vol. 37 Issue 2, p1-14. 14p.
Abstract: Controlling the crystallinity, homogeneity, and surface morphology of the perovskite layer is critical for fabricating efficient planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the deposition of perovskite on zinc oxide (ZnO) electron transport layers (ETLs) remains challenging because ZnO interacts with hydroxyl (–OH) species and thermally decomposes methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) into methylamine and lead iodide. This study investigates the effects of different ZnO fabrication methods—dry and wet processing—and introduces a graphite–polymer composite interfacial layer to enhance perovskite film stability. All layers were prepared via spin coating and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–visible spectroscopy to evaluate their structural, morphological, and optical properties. XRD and SEM analyses revealed that films employing wet ZnO and the graphite–polymer composite exhibited no PbI₂ peaks, indicating suppressed decomposition and improved interface stability relative to dry ZnO. The perovskite layer on wet ZnO displayed an optical bandgap of approximately 1.30 eV, while that on the graphite–polymer composite showed 2.40 eV, both consistent with enhanced film uniformity and crystallinity. These findings confirm that modifying the ZnO/perovskite interface through wet processing or composite interlayers effectively improves perovskite film formation and stability under mild thermal conditions. This study concentrates on materials-level characterization hence device-level photovoltaic evaluation will be undertaken in future work to establish correlations between interfacial stability and device performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:Controlling the crystallinity, homogeneity, and surface morphology of the perovskite layer is critical for fabricating efficient planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the deposition of perovskite on zinc oxide (ZnO) electron transport layers (ETLs) remains challenging because ZnO interacts with hydroxyl (–OH) species and thermally decomposes methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) into methylamine and lead iodide. This study investigates the effects of different ZnO fabrication methods—dry and wet processing—and introduces a graphite–polymer composite interfacial layer to enhance perovskite film stability. All layers were prepared via spin coating and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–visible spectroscopy to evaluate their structural, morphological, and optical properties. XRD and SEM analyses revealed that films employing wet ZnO and the graphite–polymer composite exhibited no PbI₂ peaks, indicating suppressed decomposition and improved interface stability relative to dry ZnO. The perovskite layer on wet ZnO displayed an optical bandgap of approximately 1.30 eV, while that on the graphite–polymer composite showed 2.40 eV, both consistent with enhanced film uniformity and crystallinity. These findings confirm that modifying the ZnO/perovskite interface through wet processing or composite interlayers effectively improves perovskite film formation and stability under mild thermal conditions. This study concentrates on materials-level characterization hence device-level photovoltaic evaluation will be undertaken in future work to establish correlations between interfacial stability and device performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:09574522
DOI:10.1007/s10854-025-16379-2