Improvement of perovskite solar cells efficiency with safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles

The escalating levels of atmospheric CO 2 , have been steadily rising. With the aim of reducing emissions, there has been a growing interest in photovoltaic cells as an alternative energy source to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The integration of silver -doped zinc oxide (Ag@ZnO) nanoparticles, synthesized utilizing Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) methodologies, as a constituent of the electron transport layer (ETL) within the framework of perovskite solar cell fabrication represents a significant step forward in the field of thin film solar cells. Through experimental investigation, it has been discerned that nanoparticles with spherical morphology and an average diameter measuring 15 nanometers assume a pivotal role in augmenting the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the photovoltaic devices. Of particular note are the marked enhancements of the device's electrical parameters, accentuated notably by the strong enhancement of the fill factor (21.7 %). The use of Ag@ZnO NPs as electron transport layer (ETL), promoted an average increase of 30.8 % in device power conversion efficiency. The Ag@ZnO nanoparticles synthesized and utilized in this study stand out as exemplars of sustainability and scalability, deviating from the prevalent use of ethylene glycol, a fossilderived constituent commonly employed in nanomaterial production. This commitment to sustainable practices resonates harmoniously with the Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. Upon evaluation in perovskite cells, the material demonstrated exceptional promise as an electron transport layer (ETL) for thin film solar cells.