Fluid-dynamic properties and wetting behavior of coating inks for roll-to-roll production of polymer-based solar cells

Wengeler, L.; Peters, K.; Schmitt, Markus; Wenz, Thomas; Scharfer, Philip; Schabel, Wilhelm

doi:10.1007/s11998-013-9483-5

Cited by 18 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…2 However, many drawbacks hinder its further applications, such as acidity, hygroscopic character, poor stability, 3,4 and processing limitations restricting its deposition only to a limited type of surfaces. 5 Some of the issues can be addressed by removal of PSS from the deposited lm. 6 Coating of micro-or nano-textured substrates by PEDOT solutions nevertheless remains a substantial challenge due to de-wetting, liquid thinning, and surface tension effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scale-up of oCVD: large-area conductive polymer thin films for next-generation electronics

et al. 2015

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scale-up of oCVD: large-area conductive polymer thin films for next-generation electronics

et al. 2015

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“…Also, due to its crystallographic structure, PEDOT:PSS is a hole-transfer material and therefore is typically used as a buffer layer in polymer and perovskite solar cells. 26,27 Experimental…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Substrate vibration-assisted spray coating (SVASC): significant improvement in nano-structure, uniformity, and conductivity of PEDOT:PSS thin films for organic solar cells

Zabihi

Eslamian

2015

J Coat Technol Res

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In an attempt to improve surface wetting and coating characteristics, a novel technique, i.e., imposing ultrasonic vibration on the substrate, is introduced. This technique is combined with conventional ultrasonic spray coating, thus substrate vibration-assisted spray coating (SVASC), and is employed to fabricate PEDOT:PSS thin films. PEDOT:PSS is a co-polymer, commonly used as solar cell buffer layers and thin-film electrodes. Advanced surface characterization techniques, such as atomic force microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy are utilized. The results show that the application of the imposed vibration on the substrate results in a significant decrease in surface roughness, film thickness, and the number of defects and pin-holes. In terms of the film functionality, the electrical conductivity of the PED-OT:PSS films made using the SVASC technique shows a four-time increase, compared to those made by conventional ultrasonic spray coating. In conventional ultrasonic spray coating, increasing the number of spray passes or deposition layers usually improves the coating uniformity. For aqueous PEDOT:PSS solution and within the range of the values of the parameters investigated in this work, with imposed substrate vibration, the number of spray passes is immaterial, as far as the film uniformity is concerned. However, the application of multiple spray passes enhances the film's electrical conductivity. Our unprecedented results on the combined substrate vibration with spray coating provide a platform for low-cost fabrication of solutionprocessed thin-film solar cell devices, and a forward step toward commercialization of emerging solar cells, such as polymer and perovskite solar cells. The positive effect of using imposed substrate vibration on spray-on solar cell thin films may be deployed in other coating (e.g., spin coating) and spray coating applications as well.

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“…Slot–die coating demands rheological requirements that allow uniform layer formation 36. Additionally, the drying kinetics of a slot–die coated layer are fundamentally different from spin coating, where the rotation causes spin‐off of most of the material and subsequently accelerates the solvent evaporation 37–39…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roll‐to‐Roll Slot–Die Coated Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Modules with High Geometrical Fill Factors

et al. 2015

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Flexible semi‐transparent organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules were manufactured by roll‐to‐roll slot–die coating of three functional layers [ZnO, photoactive layer, and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)] and either the screen printing or inkjet printing of the top electrodes. A poly(3‐hexylthiophene):[6,6] phenyl C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) layer deposited from non‐chlorinated solvents was used as the absorber layer. The modules were realized by slot–die coating of the layers onto a laser‐patterned polyethylene terephthalate/indium‐tin oxide (PET/ITO) substrate, followed by laser structuring of all coated layers. The top electrodes were realized by high‐resolution printing, which, combined with laser patterning of other layers, enables manufacturing of the modules with high geometrical fill factor (92.5 %). The modules have an active area of 156 cm2, and contain 13 serially interconnected cells. Two semitransparent electrodes (ITO from the bottom and PEDOT:PSS/Ag‐grid from the top side) allow the absorption of photons incident from both sides. The performance of the modules was evaluated and compared among the modules by considering the following factors: (i) roll‐to‐roll slot–die coated vs. spin‐coated layers, (ii) inkjet‐printed vs. screen‐printed top electrodes, (iii) top vs. bottom illumination. The demonstrated technology is one of the proven feasible ways towards industrial manufacturing of the OPV modules.

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Fluid-dynamic properties and wetting behavior of coating inks for roll-to-roll production of polymer-based solar cells

Cited by 18 publications

References 19 publications

Scale-up of oCVD: large-area conductive polymer thin films for next-generation electronics

Scale-up of oCVD: large-area conductive polymer thin films for next-generation electronics

Substrate vibration-assisted spray coating (SVASC): significant improvement in nano-structure, uniformity, and conductivity of PEDOT:PSS thin films for organic solar cells

Roll‐to‐Roll Slot–Die Coated Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Modules with High Geometrical Fill Factors

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