Browsing by Author "Umaru Ahmadu"

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    A review of coating tin oxide electron transport layer for optimizing the performance of perovskite solar cells
    (Chemistry of Inorganic Materials Volume 6, August 2025, 100100, 2025-04-10) YUSUF Abubakar Sadiq; Ahmad Alhaji Abubakar; Isah Kimpa Mohammed; Umaru Ahmadu; Kasim Uthman Isah
    Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have recently emerged as a transformative technology in the photovoltaic sector, drawing considerable attention due to their rapid advancements in power conversion efficiency (PCE), which now exceeds 26.7 %. This efficiency level places them in direct competition with conventional silicon-based solar cells. A key element in ensuring the high performance of PSCs is the charge transport layer (CTL), particularly the electron transport layer (ETL). The ETL plays a crucial role by efficiently collecting photo-generated electrons from the perovskite layer and transferring them to the transparent conductive oxide electrode. Among the ma- terials used for ETLs, tin oxide (SnO 2) stands out for its wide band gap, excellent optical transparency, superior carrier mobility, and remarkable chemical stability. Additionally, SnO2 can be deposited at low temperatures, making it ideal for mass production and adaptable for applications such as flexible devices. Despite its inherent advantages, the overall performance and quality of the ETL, and thus the device itself, are heavily influenced by the fabrication process. This study reviews recent approaches to fabricating SnO 2 ETLs in PSCs, with a focus on optimizing efficiency and long-term stability
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    Crystal structure refinement of co-doped Ba0.88Ca0.12Ti0.975Sn0.025O3 ceramic
    (2017) Umaru Ahmadu; OLARINOYE, OYELEKE; Moses Agida; Auwal M. Muhammad
    Ba/Ca-doped barium titanate has been prepared by solid state reaction to produce Ba0.88Ca0.12 Ti0.975Sn0.025O3(BCST) ceramics. Five samples were irradiated using neutron fluence of 8.1 106, 9.72 107, 8.75 108, 6.99 109 and 1.4 1010 n/cm2 (BCST-06 to-10). The structure and phase compositions of the control (BCST) and irradiated samples were determined by X-ray diffraction and indicate the presence of a majorly single phase tetragonal barium titanate (S.G.P4mm) with a minor phase CaTiO3 (orthorhombic). However, Rietveld refinement using GSAS II suite of programs indicates a tetragonality ratio (c/a ¼ 0.996) which is pseudocubic with a reduction in volume of 0.03% in the control compared to pristine BT. The irradiated samples exhibited changes in tetragonality (maximum of 0.82%) and variation in volume (0.58%, maximum) over the range of fluence investigated. A complete vacancy was observed in the Ca site of BCST10 but not in the oxygen sites while the occupancies of other metal sites varied. The substitution of Sn is expected to lead to a lower transition temperature and an increase in dielectric constant near the transition temperature of the control. While the changes in volume, tetragonality and occupancy of the irradiated samples are expected to affect their electromechanical properties due to changes in the Ti octahedra which would lead to a slight degradation in device performance.