NiOx@Carbon black counter electrodes for perovskite solar cells by slot-die and blade coating methods

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2026

Department

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Abstract

Carbon-based electrodes have emerged as low-cost alternatives to noble metals in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), also functioned as promising hole transport layers (HTL) candidates to enable HTL-free PSCs with simpler structure. Nevertheless, direct contact between the carbon electrode and the perovskite layer often cause issues of poor interfacial contact and inefficient hole extraction. To address the challenges, introducing p-type metal oxides such as NiOx into carbon electrode could improve the energy level alignment and facilitate hole transport. Here, we employ different loadings of NiOx with commercial carbon black (CB) to prepare NiOx@CB composite films through scalable coating methods (e.g., blade coating and slot-die coating). The NiOx loading amount and coating technique both influence on the morphology and conductivity of NiOx@CB films. With an optimal NiOx loading (5 wt%), the fabricated HTL-free PSCs with NiOx@CB electrodes display obviously enhanced photovoltaic performance. Moreover, slot-die-coated devices achieve higher PCE due to improved film quality and charge transport. This study highlights the potential of NiOx@CB composite electrodes and slot-die coating method for the development of cost-effective and scalable PSCs.

Publication Title

Materials Research Bulletin

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