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Multifunctional flexible perovskites with carbon nanotube/PC71BM stack for effective charge extraction and slow recombination phenomena

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Abstract

Definitely not a hyperbole that perovskites have been distinguished in championing revolution of energy harvesting. The development of extremely effective perovskite devices is the focus of extensive and rigorous research efforts. The photo-physics mechanism, device architectures, processing methods, and characterizations could all be considered subcategories of these efforts. On either side of the perovskite absorbers, appropriate charge transport layers are critical for optimizing the overall device efficiency. They also facilitate discrepancies between the charge extraction and recombination phenomena. Despite their prominence, research on the charge transfer kinetic mechanisms and underlying dynamics has lagged. To precisely follow the kinetics of an extensive process by holding distinct and energetically confined spectrum properties, we have here addressed the fundamental challenges using a thin charge extraction layer made of semiconducting single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). Here, the hole transport component is fullerene. By filling in pinholes and vacancies between perovskite grains, PC71BM ([6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester) specifically plays a key role in enhancing the characteristics of the light-absorbing layer and developing a film with large grains and reduced grain boundaries. This design demonstrated increased electrical parameters with better efficiency of about 13.41%. The CNT/PCBM regions had the maximum open circuit voltage VOC, which was around 0.71 V, with short circuit current density JSC values of 16.60 mAcm−2 and fill factor of 64.03% along with better stability. Further, the frequency responses of the harvesting system with perovskite materials under harmonic excitation are derived and presented to analyze the mechanical behavior and piezo behavior proving the perovskites to be multifunctional.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/ or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This study was supported by Indian Institute of Technology Madras under Institute Post Doctoral fellowship.

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  1. Department of Applied Mechanics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India

    Reshma Liyakath & Shaikh Faruque Ali

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  1. Reshma Liyakath
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RL: Conceptualization, Data collection, Data curation, Investigations, Writing-original draft, Formal analysis. SFA: Supervision, Validation, Visualization. The authors have fully read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Reshma Liyakath.

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Liyakath, R., Ali, S.F. Multifunctional flexible perovskites with carbon nanotube/PC71BM stack for effective charge extraction and slow recombination phenomena. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 34, 1720 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-11086-2

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