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Analysis of institutional authors

Khattak, YhAuthorMari, BAuthor

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October 28, 2024
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Low-cost kesterite (CZTS) bilayers as an effective hole-transport layer for perovskite solar cells

Publicated to: OPTICAL MATERIALS. 147 114582- - 2024-01-01 147(), DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2023.114582

Authors:

Bouhjar, Feriel; Derbali, Lotfi; Khattak, Yousaf Hameed; Marí, B.
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Affiliations

Fed Urdu Univ Arts Sci & Technol, Elect Engn Dept - Author
Res & Technol Ctr Energy CRTEn, Photovolta Lab, Borj Cedria Sci & Technol Pk,BP 95 - Author
Univ Politecn Valencia, Inst Disseny & Fabricacio IDF, Cami Vera s-n - Author
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Abstract

This study investigates the utility of Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide (CZTS) thin films as inorganic hole-transporting layers (HTLs) in low-temperature perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The primary goal is to improve power conversion efficiencies (PCE) in PSCs using CZTS thin films fabricated through solution-based methods, with CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite and ZnO serving as the light-absorbing and electron-transporting components, respectively. Precise control over CZTS thin film growth significantly influences the formation of uniform perovskite layers. The study underscores the importance of achieving dense ZnO films with suitable grain sizes to confirm consistent coverage of perovskite films, enabling efficient charge transport while reducing recombination at the CZTS/perovskite interface. Results reveal that CZTS/CZTS bilayers exhibit superior photoelectrochemical performance compared to conventional CZTS (A)/FTO and CZTS (B)/CZTS (A) configurations. Evaluation of water splitting performance demonstrates that the CZTS/CZTS bilayer photoelectrode achieves the maximum photocurrent density, reaching 12 mA/cm2 vs. Ag/AgCl, with an Incident Photon-to-Current Efficiency of 9 % at 400 nm and an applied potential of 0.4V vs. Ag/AgCl. The study comprehensively examines CZTS impact on PSC photovoltaic properties and stability, culminating in a high-performance device with a PCE potential of up to 7 %. This underscores the pivotal role of CZTS- perovskite contacts in determining PSC photovoltaic performance and highlights CZTS potential as a versatile HTM for various PSCs designs.
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Keywords

Bi-layerCh3nh3pbl3Ch<sub>3</sub>nh<sub>3</sub>pbl<sub>3</sub>Chlorine compoundsConversion efficiencyCopper compoundsCopper zinc tin sulphidesCu2znsns4CztsDesignEfficientElectrochemical depositionElectrochemistryFesem analyseFesem analysisFilmFilm growthHole mobilityHydrothermal depositionIi-vi semiconductorsLayered semiconductorsLead compoundsOptical propertiesPerovskitePerovskite solar cellsPhotoelectrochemical propertiesPower conversion efficienciesReductionSulfide thin filmsTemperatureThin filmsXrd analysisZinc oxideZinc sulfide

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal OPTICAL MATERIALS due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2024 there are still no calculated indicators, but in 2023, it was in position 29/125, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Optics.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2026-04-02:

  • WoS: 4
  • Scopus: 5
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-02:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 17.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 17 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 1.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Tunisia; United States of America.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Bouhjar, F) and Last Author (Marí Soucase, Bernabé).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Bouhjar, F.

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Awards linked to the item

The author extend their appreciation to the deanship of scientific research at Shaqra University for funding this research work through the project number (SU-ANN-202252).
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