Tungsten trioxide nanocomposite thin films deposited by spin coating and AACVD methods as electron transport layer for photovoltaic solar cells

This research explores the fabrication of tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanocomposite thin films as an electron transport layer for photovoltaic solar cells. WO3 was deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass using spin coating and aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD) method to study the differences in structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of the thin films. WO3 nanocomposite thin films were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). From XRD analysis, WO3 thin films obtained from both methods showed a tetragonal anatase crystal phase with a h k l index of (2 2 1). FESEM images found that the particles in WO3 thin films by the spin coating method were more even and uniformly distributed, while the film by the AACVD method had some agglomerations. From AFM, the surface of the WO3 thin film prepared by the spin coating method was found to be smoother, whereas the thin film prepared by the AACVD method was rougher. UV–Vis spectroscopy analysis found that the bandgap energy of the thin film by the spin coating method is lower (2.40 eV) than which by the AACVD method (2.57 eV). From J–V characteristic analysis, it was found that the spin-coated WO3 thin film has lower current density but higher power conversion efficiency (PCE; η = 0.278%), compared to the thin film by AACVD method, which has higher current density and lower PCE (η = 0.235%). This finding demonstrates the occurrence of a more efficient rate of charge movement between WO3 layers through the spin coating method. Although it produces a lower photocurrent value, it enhances the efficiency of polymer solar cells.

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