Efficient flexible organic photovoltaics using silver nanowires and polymer based transparent electrodes

Abstract

a b s t r a c tPlanarization and filling voids between wires are key issues when using nanowire electrodes in flexible solar cells such as organic photovoltaics (OPV). For this purpose, we use poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) which leads to an electrically well connected silver nanowire (AgNW) network. Furthermore, the use of water based PEDOT: PSS leads to humidity assisted AgNW fusing, resulting in a maximum processing temperature of only 120 C. OPV cells using this AgNW/PEDOT: PSS transparent electrodes exhibit power conversion efficiencies up to 7.15%. Moreover, OPV devices on PET substrates with an alumina encapsulation and barrier adhesive show excellent mechanical flexibility.

Flexible and Semitransparent Organic Solar Cells

“…Among the various metal NWs materials, the silver NWs exhibit many favorable properties as solution processable TTE for application in the semitransparent OSCs. [78,[133][134][135][136][137] Peumans et al [138] fabricated semitransparent OSCs using a laminated Ag nanowire (Ag NW) mesh as TTE that can be deposited without damaging the underlying photoactive layer. The resulting semitransparent phthalocyanine/fullerene-based device exhibited the PCE which is 57% of that of a device with the conventional metal top electrode, indicating the potential of the Ag NW as the TTE.…”

Recent Studies of Semitransparent Solar Cells

“…Recently, metal NWs as a TCE have received much attention due to their outstanding electrical and optical properties. Especially, Ag NWs are very useful as solution-processable TCE for the application in the STOSCs [104][105][106][107][108][109] STOSCs were also fabricated using laminated Ag NWs meshes without damaging the photoactive layer in 2010 [39], thereby showing an AVT of 26% in the spectral range of 400 to 800 nm and a low PCE of 0.63%.…”

Influence of the average molar mass of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) on the dimensions and conductivity of silver nanowires

“…Transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) fabricated with silver nanowire (AgNW) networks are highly promising candidates for application in optoelectronic devices, such as solar cells, lightemitting-diodes, or touch screens. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The AgNW electrodes show comparable sheet resistances (R S ) and transmittances at 550 nm (%T 550 ) to commercially used indium tin oxide (ITO). Since ITO is a ceramic, its brittleness may cause electrode failure after bending or stretching.…”