Fully Solution-Processed Inverted Polymer Solar Cells with Laminated Nanowire Electrodes

Abstract

We demonstrate organic photovoltaic cells in which every layer is deposited by solution processing on opaque metal substrates, with efficiencies similar to those obtained in conventional device structures on transparent substrates. The device architecture is enabled by solution-processed, laminated silver nanowire films serving as the top transparent anode. The cells are based on the regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) and C-61 butyric acid methyl ester bulk heterojunction and reach an efficiency of 2.5% under 100 mW/cm(2) of AM 1.5G illumination. The metal substrates are adequate barriers to moisture and oxygen, In contrast to transparent plastics that have previously been used, giving rise to the possibility of roll-to-roll solution-processed solar cells that are packaged by lamination to glass substrates, combining the cost advantage of roll-to-roll processing with the barrier properties of glass and metal foil.