CdTe/CdSe nanocrystal (NC) solar cells with an inverted structure (ITO/ZnO/CdSe/CdTe/Au) have been successfully fabricated by a simple solution process coupled with layer-by-layer sintering techniques. It was found that the device performance is strongly dependent on the annealing strategy, the thickness of the acceptor layer and on the buffer layer of ZnO when the optimal thickness of CdTe is adopted. Without the ZnO buffer layer, a thin film of the CdSeNCs on an ITO substrate shows a rougher morphology, resulting in device shunting. However, when a 40 nm-thick ZnO buffer layer and 60 nm-thick CdSe were employed, the device shows a much higher PCE of 5.81% under device conditions, post-annealing at 340 8C. This value is the highest efficiency ever reported to date for a CdTe/CdSe NC solar cell. Comparing with CdTe/CdSe NC solar cells with the normal device configuration, this device with an inverted structure simultaneously offers good Ohmic contact for carrier collection and efficient harvesting of solar photons in a wide wavelength.

With the rapid development of flexible electronic devices (especially flexible LCD/OLED), flexible transparent electrodes (FTEs) with high light transmittance, high electrical conductivity, and excellent stretchability have attracted extensive attention from researchers and businesses. FTEs serve as an important part of display devices (touch screen and display), energy storage devices (solar cells and super capacitors), and wearable medical devices (electronic skin). In this paper, we review the recent progress in the field of FTEs, with special emphasis on metal materials, carbon-based materials, conductive polymers (CPs), and composite materials, which are good alternatives to the traditional commercial transparent electrode (i.e., indium tin oxide, ITO). With respect to production methods, this article provides a detailed discussion on the performance differences and practical applications of different materials. Furthermore, major challenges and future developments of FTEs are also discussed.

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In this study, CdTe/CdSe NCs BNH solar cells with PCE of 6.25% were successfully fabricated in an inverted structure configuration ITO/ZnO/CdSe/CdSe:CdTe/CdTe/Au by a solution process.