All-Inorganic p−n Heterojunction Solar Cells by Solution Combustion Synthesis Using N-type FeMnO(3) Perovskite Photoactive Layer

This study outlines the synthesis and physicochemical characteristics of a solution-processable iron manganite (FeMnO(3)) nanoparticles via a chemical combustion method using tartaric acid as a fuel whilst demonstrating the performance of this material as a n-type photoactive layer in all-oxide solar cells. It is shown that the solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method enables the formation of pure crystal phase FeMnO(3) with controllable particle size. XRD pattern and morphology images from TEM confirm the purity of FeMnO(3) phase and the relatively small crystallite size (∼13 nm), firstly reported in the literature. Moreover, to assemble a network of connected FeMnO(3) nanoparticles, β-alanine was used as a capping agent and dimethylformamide (DMF) as a polar aprotic solvent for the colloidal dispersion of FeMnO(3) NPs. This procedure yields a ∼500 nm thick FeMnO(3) n-type photoactive layer. The proposed method is crucial to obtain functional solution processed NiO/FeMnO(3) heterojunction inorganic photovoltaics. Photovoltaic performance and solar cell device limitations of the NiO/FeMnO(3)-based heterojunction solar cells are presented.