Influence of TiO₂ and SnO₂ Nanoparticle Thin Films Deposited by Pulsed Laser Deposition on Organic Solar Cell Performance

Author : Meaad Salim Younes Al Hadidi, Faris M. Al-Hamdany

Abstract : The main limitations of organic cells (OSCs) are their low operational lifetime and efficiency. The electron transport layer (ETL) is a key component in OSCs, significantly influencing the efficiency and lifetime of the device. Tin oxide (SnO₂) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) are among the most widely employed as ETL materials in OSCs, owing to their favorable optoelectronic properties and excellent chemical stability, these materials have attracted considerable research interest in recent years. In this study, a comparative investigation was conducted on SnO₂ and TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) as ETLs in inverted organic solar cells employing (PTB7-Th: O-IDTBR) as the active layer. The results revealed that the OSCs incorporating a SnO₂ electron transport layer exhibited a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) than those based on TiO₂. Specifically, the devices with SnO₂ achieved a PCE of (19.0%), whereas those employing TiO₂ reached a PCE of (16.95%). The OSCs with SnO2 showed a degradation time lower than that of TiO2 under the same ambient air conditions and illumination

Keywords : Organic Solar Cells, SnO₂, TiO₂, Electron Transport Layer, PLD, PCE

Conference Name : International Conference on Nonlinear Physics in Renewable Energy Systems (ICNPRES-26)

Conference Place : London, UK

Conference Date : 13th Aug 2026