IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,628,492
Granted Patent B2
US 12,628,492 · App. 18/604,365 · Granted May 12, 2026

Methods for improving perovskite solar cells

Inventors: Axel Finn Palmstrom (Golden, CO); Joseph Jonathan Berry (Boulder, CO); Samuel Aaron Johnson (Boulder, CO)
Assignees: Alliance for Energy Innovation, LLC; The Regents of the University of Colorado
H10K30/82H10K30/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,628,492
App. No.
18/604,365
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a device that includes a first metal oxide layer having a first thickness, a second metal oxide layer having a second thickness, and a base layer having a third thickness, where the first metal oxide layer is positioned between the base layer and the second metal oxide layer, at least one of the base layer and/or the first metal oxide layer includes a carbon-containing material, and at least one of a carbon concentration gradient and/or an oxygen concentration gradient is present across at least one of a portion of the first thickness and/or a portion of the third thickness. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first metal oxide layer may be permeable to an oxygen-containing compound. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the oxygen-containing compound may include at least one of O 3 , N 2 O, and/or H 2 O 2 .

Claims (26)

1 . A method comprising:

a first depositing of a first layer comprising a first metal oxide onto a surface;

contacting at least one of the surface or the first layer with at least one of an oxygen-containing compound or an oxygen plasma; and

a second depositing of a second layer comprising a second metal oxide onto the first layer, wherein:

at least one of the surface or the first layer includes a carbon-containing material,

the oxygen-containing compound reacts with at least a portion of the carbon-containing material to form an oxygen-containing functional group bonded to carbon,

the oxygen-containing functional group provides a nucleation site that facilitates, during the second depositing, forming structures comprising -C-O-M at the surface, on the first layer, or a combination thereof, and

M is a metal from at least one of the first metal oxide or the second metal oxide.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxygen-containing compound comprises at least one of N 2 O, O 3 , or H 2 O 2 .

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxygen-containing functional group comprises at least one of an epoxide, a hydroxyl, a carboxyl, a carbonyl, an aldehyde, an ester, a carboxylic acid, an ether, a ketone, an acyl halide, an amide, or an acid anhydride.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting with the oxygen-containing compound or oxygen plasma and the second depositing are performed between 1 and 150 times.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting further comprises contacting with ozone for a period of time between 10 ms and 60 seconds.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first depositing is performed using at least one of a gas phase method, a vapor phase method, or a solution phase method.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first depositing is performed using atomic layer deposition and a first metal oxide precursor.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first depositing is performed between 1 and 150 cycles.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first metal oxide precursor comprises tetrakis-dimethylamino tin(IV) and the first layer comprises tin oxide.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first depositing further comprises water.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first depositing is performed at a temperature between 50° C. and 150° C.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second depositing is performed using at least one of a gas phase method, a vapor phase method, or a solution phase method.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second depositing is performed using atomic layer deposition and a second metal oxide precursor.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second metal oxide precursor comprises tetrakis-dimethylamino tin(IV) and the second layer comprises tin oxide.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second depositing is performed at a temperature between 50° C. and 150° C.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is part of a base layer having a thickness.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the oxygen-containing functional group is present in at least one of a gradient aligned in a direction across the thickness of the base layer or in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to an interface between the base layer and the first layer.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising, prior to the first depositing, scribing at least a portion of the base layer resulting in a gap passing through the thickness of the base layer and resulting in the forming of the surface.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second depositing results in at least a portion of the second metal oxide penetrating into at least one of the surface or the base layer.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 16, 2025
From: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
To: ALLIANCE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 073993/0276 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded May 2, 2024
From: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 067292/0680 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: PALMSTROM, AXEL FINN; BERRY, JOSEPH JONATHAN
To: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 066774/0176 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63490031 · Mar 14, 2023
Related Publication 20240315062A1 · Sep 19, 2024
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