High Performance of PEDOT:PSS/n-Si Solar Cells Based on Textured Surface with AgNWs Electrodes

Abstract

Hybrid heterojunction solar cells (HHSCs) have gained extensive research and attention due to simple device structure and low-cost technological processes. Here, HHSCs are presented based on a highly transparent conductive polymer poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS) directly spin-coated on an n-type crystalline silicon with microscale surface textures, which are prepared by traditional chemical etching. We have studied interface properties between PEDOT:PSS and textured n-Si by varying coating conditions. Final power conversion efficiency (PCE) could arrive at 8.54% by these simple solution-based fabrication processes. The high conversion efficiency is attributed to the fully conformal contact between PEDOT:PSS film and textured silicon. Furthermore, the reflectance of the PEDOT:PSS layer on textured surface is analyzed by changing film thickness. In order to improve the performance of the device, silver nanowires were employed as electrodes because of its better optical transmittance and electrical conductivity. The highest PCE of 11.07% was achieved which displayed a 29.6% enhancement compared with traditional silver electrodes. These findings imply that the combination of PEDOT:PSS film and silver nanowire transparent electrodes pave a promising way for realizing high-efficiency and low-cost solar cells.

Nanostructural Modification of PEDOT:PSS for High Charge Carrier Collection in Hybrid Frontal Interface of Solar Cells

“…One important advantage of these materials is their solution-type processing that allows deposition at room temperature and atmospheric pressures. Recently, these materials have also attracted attention as an alternative of common n-type and p-type inorganic materials to simplify the formation of p-/i-/n-junctions in solar cells [1,2,3]. However, inorganic materials are still the most widely used as an alternative to form these heterojunctions in the frontal interface.…”

“…Highly conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has proved to be an innovative material from a new perspective for application in silicon photovoltaic (PV) technology [2,7,8]. In hybrid crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells, PEDOT:PSS has been demonstrated to be a very efficient electron blocker, acting as “ideal” barrier [9,10,11] or passivation material [12] in heterojunction intrinsic thin film (HIT) solar cells, acting as a substitute of p-type material.…”

Recent advances in highly efficient organic-silicon hybrid solar cells

“…Currently, the commercial PV market is restraint to the crystalline silicon solar cells a considerable market shares up to 90% [11]. There is no doubt they exhibit high efficiencies in the commercial industry, but the expensive materials cost, complicated fabrication, and energy consuming process are few limitations which make an Organic/Si HSCs a competitive research direction to the conventional silicon solar cells [12][13][14]. Therefore, many researchers show more interests in organic solar cells, organic-silicon hybrid solar cells (organic/Si HSCs) which may reduce the time and cost required to fabricate photovoltaic cells [9,15].…”

Photon management effects of hybrid nanostructures/microstructures for organic-silicon heterojunction solar cells

“…The typical PEDOT:PSS/n‐Si heterojunction solar cells are composed of front‐electrode/PEDOT:PSS/n‐Si/rear‐electrode, where PEDOT:PSS acts as both hole‐transporting layer and surface passivation layer while n‐Si acts as light‐absorbing layer to generate photon‐generated carriers . The fabrication process of PEDOT:PSS/n‐Si solar cells has many advantages including doping‐free, vacuum‐free, low‐temperature (<150°C) procedure, and the potential of roll‐to‐roll method for large‐scale industrialization . Therefore, PEDOT:PSS/n‐Si heterojunction solar cells have become a remarkable potential for future low‐cost and high‐efficient photovoltaic devices.…”

“…9,10 The fabrication process of PEDOT:PSS/n-Si solar cells has many advantages including doping-free, vacuum-free, low-temperature (<150°C) procedure, and the potential of roll-to-roll method for large-scale industrialization. 11,12 Therefore, PEDOT:PSS/n-Si heterojunction solar cells have become a remarkable potential for future low-cost and high-efficient photovoltaic devices.…”