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PUBLICATIONS

Nanoimaging of local photocurrent in hybrid perovskite solar cells via near-field scanning photocurrent microscopy

Published

Author(s)

Dongheon Ha, Yohan Yoon, Ik Jae Park, Paul M. Haney, Nikolai B. Zhitenev

Abstract

Photocurrent generation of methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) hybrid perovskite solar cells is observed at the nanoscale using near-field scanning photocurrent microscopy (NSPM). We examine how the spatial map of photocurrent at individual grains or grain boundaries is affected either by sample post-annealing temperature or by extended light illumination. For NSPM measurements, we use a tapered fiber with an output opening of 200 nm in the Cr/Au cladded metal coating attached to a tuning fork-based atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe. Increased photocurrent is observed at grain boundaries of perovskite solar cells annealed at moderate temperature (100 °C); however, the opposite spatial pattern (i.e., increased photocurrent generation at grain interiors) is observed in samples annealed at higher temperature (130 °C). Combining NSPM results with other macro-/microscale characterization techniques including electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and other electrical property measurements, we suggest that such spatial patterns are caused by material inhomogeneity, dynamics of lead iodide segregation, and defect passivation. Finally, we discuss the degradation mechanism of perovskite solar cells under extended light illumination, which is related to further segregation of lead iodide.
Proceedings Title
Proceedings of SPIE
Volume
10737
Conference Dates
August 19-23, 2018
Conference Location
San Diego, CA
Conference Title
SPIE Optics and Photonics
Pub Type
Conferences

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2320738

Keywords

Perovskite, grain boundaries passivation, near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), near- field scanning photocurrent microscopy (NSPM), nanoscale measurement, lead iodide, light- induced degradation, degradation mechanism
Optoelectronics, Alternative energy, Energy efficiency, Composition and structure, Nanomaterials, Nanophotonics and Optical physics and communications

Citation

Ha, D. , Yoon, Y. , , I. , Haney, P. and Zhitenev, N. (2018), Nanoimaging of local photocurrent in hybrid perovskite solar cells via near-field scanning photocurrent microscopy, Proceedings of SPIE, San Diego, CA, [online], https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2320738 (Accessed October 7, 2025)

Issues

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Created September 14, 2018, Updated November 10, 2018
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