Lead Iodide Perovskite Sensitized All-Solid-State Submicron Thin Film Mesoscopic Solar Cell with Efficiency Exceeding 9%
Scientific Reports, 2012 · paper · Materials
Reports an all-solid-state solar cell using methylammonium lead iodide nanoparticles on thin mesoscopic titanium dioxide with a spiro-MeOTAD hole conductor. It reached 9.7% power conversion efficiency and was more stable than comparable liquid-electrolyte perovskite cells.
Checked: PDF from nature.com, fetched 4 Oct 2026. Page numbers are those of that PDF.
4 findings
Reference or label The perovskite valence band "−5.43 eV below vacuum level, which is consistent with the previous report21" cites ref 21, Lin et al., "Size dependency of nanocrystalline TiO2 on its optical property and photocatalytic reactivity".
- p. 2 Results, perovskite characterization
which is consistent with the previous report21
- p. 7 Reference 21
Size dependency of nanocrystalline TiO2 on its optical property and photocatalytic reactivity
Only the authors can say what is right here.
Judge's note: The reference list on page 7 shows that ref 21 is a TiO2 optics/photocatalysis paper. It is cited correctly earlier for Kubelka-Munk and the TiO2 band gap, but going by its title it does not fit the perovskite valence band. The intended reference is probably different; only the authors can say which.
Second check: another model agreed
Report a problem with this finding
Reference or label p.3: "consistent with the UPS result and the luminescence results shown in Figure 2"; Figure 2 contains no luminescence data.
- p. 3 PIA paragraph
the luminescence results shown in Figure 2
- p. 3 PIA paragraph
results shown in Figure 2.
- p. 3 Time-resolved section
which is centered at 780 nm, Figure SI2
- p. 3 PIA paragraph, Results
which is consistent with the UPS result and the luminescence results shown in Figure 2.
Only the authors can say what is right here.
Judge's note: The Figure 2 caption and image show diffuse reflectance, a Kubelka-Munk plot, a UPS spectrum and an energy diagram, and no emission data. The emission spectrum is cited elsewhere as Figure SI2 (pp.3 and 5). The pointer probably should read Figure SI2, but the supplement is not in the files, so the authors should confirm.
Second check: another model agreed
Report a problem with this finding
Reference or label Methods: "(CH3NH3)PbI3 was prepared according to the reported procedure17"; ref 17 is Jang et al., "Voltage-enhancement mechanisms of an organic dye in high open-circuit voltage solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells".
- p. 6 Methods, Materials synthesis
according to the reported procedure17
- p. 6 Methods, Materials synthesis
was prepared according to the reported procedure17
- p. 7 Reference 17
Voltage-enhancement mechanisms of an organic dye in high open-circuit voltage solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells
- p. 6 Methods, Materials synthesis
prepared according to the reported procedure17
Only the authors can say what is right here.
Judge's note: Rests on outside knowledge: that ref 17 contains no perovskite synthesis, which is inferred from its title in the reference list. Ref 20 (Im et al., 6.5% perovskite QD-sensitized cell) is the authors' own perovskite paper and is cited elsewhere for this material, so 17 may be a numbering slip for 20.
Second check: another model agreed
Report a problem with this finding
Reference or label XRD "scan rate of 4°C/min" uses a temperature unit; should be 4°/min (2θ).
- p. 6 Methods, characterization
scan rate of 4oC/min
Judge's note: Crop shows 4ºC/min.
Second check: another model agreed
Report a problem with this finding
20 minor (typos and the like; most checked by the judge only)
Wording p.3: "The VOC decreases from ~0.9 V to ~0.85 V as the film thickness increases to 0.8 µm"; in Fig. 4b the 0.8 µm point is about 0.91 V and the ~0.85 V level first appears at 0.9 µm.
- p. 3 Thickness dependence paragraph
0.85 V as the film thickness increases to 0.8 mm
- p. 4 Figure 4b
VOC (V)
- p. 3 Thickness dependence
decreases from ,0.9 V to ,0.85 V as the film thickness increases to 0.8 mm
- p. 4 Figure 4b
V_OC (V)
Only the authors can say what is right here.
Judge's note: Reading Fig. 4b by eye: 0.6 µm ≈ 0.89 V, 0.8 µm ≈ 0.91 V (the highest point), 0.9 and 1.0 µm ≈ 0.855 V. The stated thickness for the drop does not match the plot; 0.9 µm may have been meant. The rest of the trend sentence is consistent with the figure.
Second check: another model agreed
Report a problem with this finding
Wording p.3: "JSC’s of 16–17 mA/cm2 can be obtained within the range of film thicknesses of 0.6–1.4 µm"; in Fig. 4a the 0.8 µm mean is about 15.6 and the 0.9 µm mean about 17.3 mA/cm2.
- p. 3 Thickness dependence paragraph
JSC’s of 16–17 mA/cm2 can be obtained within the range of film thicknesses of 0.6–1.4 mm
- p. 4 Figure 4a
JSC (mA/cm2)
- p. 4 Figure 4a
J_SC (mA/cm2)
Judge's note: Fig. 4a by eye: 0.6 ≈ 16.9, 0.8 ≈ 15.6, 0.9 ≈ 17.3, 1.0 ≈ 16.0, 1.1 ≈ 16.6, 1.2 ≈ 16.2, 1.3 ≈ 16.0, 1.4 ≈ 16.4. Two points lie slightly outside the stated range. The error bars overlap it and the wording is approximate, so this is a minor looseness.
Second check: another model agreed
Report a problem with this finding
Wording Discussion attributes VOC/FF loss to "dark current and electron transport resistance according to the impedance spectroscopic study", but the IS section reports "JSC and FF were similar for all 3 cells" and Methods fit only a recombination RC element plus series resistance.
- p. 6 Discussions
which is mainly attributed to the increase in dark current and elec- tron transport resistance according to the impedance spectroscopic study
- p. 3 Impedance spectroscopy
The JSC and FF were similar for all 3 cells
- p. 6 Methods, Impedance spectroscopy
was fitted with a simple RC element
Only the authors can say what is right here.
Judge's note: IS results discuss only RCT and CA; transport resistance appears only in the Fig.4 discussion, not from IS.
Second check: another model agreed
Report a problem with this finding
Wording Discussions: TAS "proves a complete hole transfer from the perovskite sensitizer to HTM", while Results report only attenuated, 'apparent weaker quenching' on TiO2.
- p. 6 Discussions
which proves a complete hole transfer from the perovskite sensitizer to HTM
- p. 5 TAS results
The apparent weaker quenching of the (CH3NH3)PbI3 excited state by the HTM in the TiO2 sample
- p. 5 TAS section
The apparent weaker quenching of the (CH3NH3)PbI3 excited
Only the authors can say what is right here.
Judge's note: On p.5, for TiO2, the stimulated emission is 'clearly attenuated' and the quenching is weaker than on Al2O3. The text adds that near-IR measurements would be needed to time-resolve oxidized spiro. 'Proves a complete' transfer therefore overstates what the TAS section reports.
Second check: another model agreed
Report a problem with this finding
Typo Introduction p.1: "Impressive PEC values of up to 6.54% have been obtained"; the efficiency abbreviation is PCE everywhere else.
- p. 1 Introduction
Impressive PEC values of up to 6.54%
- p. 1
Impressive PEC values of up to 6.54% have been obtained
Judge's note: The page image reads 'PEC values of up to 6.54%'. The abstract and the rest of the text define and use PCE for power conversion efficiency, so this is a transposition.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo Introduction misspells mesoscopic twice: "sensitized mesosocopic TiO2" and "for mesoso-scopic solar cells".
- p. 1 Introduction
mesosocopic TiO2
- p. 1 Introduction
mesoso-
- p. 1 Introduction
sensitized mesosocopic TiO2
- p. 1 Introduction
for mesoso- scopic solar cells
Judge's note: Both misspellings are visible in the page image; they are not extraction artefacts.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo The hole conductor is written "spiro-MeOTAD" (abstract, intro, PIA, Discussions, Methods) but "spiro-OMeTAD" in the TAS section (pp.5-6).
- p. 1 Abstract
spiro-MeOTAD
- p. 5 TAS discussion
spiro-OMeTAD
- p. 6 Discussions
is reductively quenched by spiro-MeOTAD
- p. 5 TAS results
hole-transporting material spiro-OMeTAD
Judge's note: The page images show 'spiro-MeOTAD' in the abstract and 'spiro-OMeTAD' repeatedly on p.5 and at the top of p.6. Both spellings are used in the literature, but the paper mixes them. Cosmetic.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo "(CH3NH3)PbI3 NP’s embedded in" (p.3) should be "NPs"; "much thinner TiO2 layer are employed" (p.1) should be "layers are".
- p. 3 Photovoltaic data
(CH3NH3)PbI3 NP’s embedded in
- p. 1 Introduction, paragraph 3
much thinner TiO2 layer are employed
Judge's note: Both phrases visible in crops.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo Page 2 first line reads "achieved with submicon thick films"; should be submicron.
- p. 2 First line
achieved with submicon thick films
Judge's note: The misspelling is visible in the crop.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo "extrapolation of the liner part of [F(R)hν]2 plot"; should be linear.
- p. 2 Band gap paragraph
extrapolation of the liner part
Judge's note: The misspelling is visible in the crop of page 2.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo "The negative peak is an emission neat the band gap"; should be near.
- p. 3 PIA paragraph
neat the band gap
- p. 3 PIA paragraph
The negative peak is an emission neat the band gap
Judge's note: The misspelling is visible in the crop of page 3.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo "of the pervoskite nanoparticles"; should be perovskite.
- p. 3 Photovoltaic data
of the pervoskite nanoparticles
Judge's note: The misspelling is visible in the crop of page 3.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo "ilumination and hence their quasi Fermie level"; should be illumination and Fermi.
- p. 3 Thickness dependence paragraph
ilumination and hence their quasi Fermie level
Judge's note: Both misspellings are visible in the crop of page 3.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo The PIA supplementary figure is cited as "Supplementary Figure S1" (p.3) and as "Figure SI1" (p.6).
- p. 3 PIA paragraph
(Supplementary Figure S1)
- p. 6 Top paragraph
Figure SI1
- p. 6 top paragraph
Figure SI1 for both Al2O3 and TiO2
- p. 6 top of left column
Figure SI1 for both Al2O3
Judge's note: Both citations refer to the PIA spectra showing oxidized spiro on Al2O3 and TiO2, so they are the same figure under two labels. The emission figure is consistently 'Figure SI2'. The supplement is not in the files. Cosmetic.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo Section heading reads "Time resolve single photon and femto-second laser spectroscopy studies"; should be "Time-resolved".
- p. 3 Section heading
Time resolve single photon
- p. 3 section heading
Time resolve single photon and femto-second laser spectroscopy
Judge's note: Crop shows the bold heading on p.3 with "Time resolve".
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo Misspellings on p.6: "oxdized form" (oxidized) and "peroskite nanoparticles" (perovskite).
- p. 6 Top of page
oxdized form
- p. 6 Long-term stability
peroskite nanoparticles
- p. 6 Long-term stability
peroskite nanoparticles are unstable
Judge's note: Both visible in crop.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo Discussion misspellings: "ligth harvesters", "heterojucntion solar cells", "TiO2 fims".
- p. 6 Discussions
ligth harvesters in solid state heterojucntion solar cells
- p. 6 Discussions
TiO2 fims
- p. 6 Discussions, conclusion sentence
used as ligth harvesters in solid state heterojucntion solar cells
- p. 6 Discussions
ligth harvesters in solid state heterojucntion solar cells using submicron thick mesoporous TiO2 fims
Judge's note: All three visible in crop.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo "The pump beam ((λexc = 580)" has a doubled opening parenthesis and lacks the nm unit.
- p. 6 Methods, Femtosecond laser spectroscopy
The pump beam ((lexc 5 580)
Judge's note: Crop shows text as quoted; brackets unbalanced, no unit.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo "Zview software (Scribner Associate Inc.)" and "kept in a faradaic cage" (Faraday cage).
- p. 6 Impedance spectroscopy (Methods)
Zview software (Scribner Associate Inc.)
- p. 6 Impedance spectroscopy (Methods)
kept in a faradaic cage
Only the authors can say what is right here.
Judge's note: Rests on outside knowledge: company name is Scribner Associates Inc. Text confirmed in crop.
Second check: none (judge only)
Report a problem with this finding
Typo Reference punctuation: "Miyasaka. T." (ref 19), "Grätzel. M." (ref 23), "nanowire arrays.Nano Lett." (ref 15).
- p. 7 Ref. 19
Miyasaka. T.
- p. 7 Ref. 23
Gra¨tzel. M.
- p. 7 Ref. 15
nanowire arrays.Nano Lett.
Judge's note: All visible in crops of p.7.
Second check: none (judge only)