Recently-explored top electrode materials for transparent organic solar cells

Shen, Jingjing

doi:10.1016/j.synthmet.2020.116582

Cited by 29 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 166 publications

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“…Hence, SWCNTs exhibit unusual properties of either semiconducting or metallic materials, whereas MWCNTs are zero band gap materials with metallic properties (Obaidullah et al, 2018;Ouyang, 2019). CNTs have been prepared by means of several techniques, such as chemical vapour deposition (CVD), laser ablation and arc discharge (Jeon et al, 2018c;Khan et al, 2021;Shen, 2021). Among these, CVD is more appealing owing to its potential for large-scale synthesis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recent Applications of Carbon Nanotubes in Organic Solar Cells

et al. 2022

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In recent years, carbon-based materials, particularly carbon nanotubes (CNTs), have gained intensive research attention in the fabrication of organic solar cells (OSCs) due to their outstanding physicochemical properties, low-cost, environmental friendliness and the natural abundance of carbon. In this regard, the low sheet resistance and high optical transmittance of CNTs enables their application as alternative anodes to the widely used indium tin oxide (ITO), which is toxic, expensive and scarce. Also, the synergy between the large specific surface area and high electrical conductivity of CNTs provides both large donor-acceptor interfaces and conductive interpenetrating networks for exciton dissociation and charge carrier transport. Furthermore, the facile tunability of the energy levels of CNTs provides proper energy level alignment between the active layer and electrodes for effective extraction and transportation of charge carriers. In addition, the hydrophobic nature and high thermal conductivity of CNTs enables them to form protective layers that improve the moisture and thermal stability of OSCs, thereby prolonging the devices’ lifetime. Recently, the introduction of CNTs into OSCs produced a substantial increase in efficiency from ∼0.68 to above 14.00%. Thus, further optimization of the optoelectronic properties of CNTs can conceivably help OSCs to compete with silicon solar cells that have been commercialized. Therefore, this study presents the recent breakthroughs in efficiency and stability of OSCs, achieved mainly over 2018–2021 by incorporating CNTs into electrodes, active layers and charge transport layers. The challenges, advantages and recommendations for the fabrication of low-cost, highly efficient and sustainable next-generation OSCs are also discussed, to open up avenues for commercialization.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CNTs have been prepared by means of several techniques, such as chemical vapour deposition (CVD), laser ablation and arc discharge ( Jeon et al, 2018c ; Khan et al, 2021 ; Shen, 2021 ). Among these, CVD is more appealing owing to its potential for large-scale synthesis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Applications of Carbon Nanotubes in Organic Solar Cells

et al. 2022

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“…It was established that external connection was often associated with elevated resistances [8], rigid/heavy devices [9] and having a complicated manufacturing process [10]. It is worth noting that the main challenge of developing supercapacitors is increasing their energy and power densities without compromising their long life cycle and fast charging/discharging properties [10,11]. Consequently, the integration of these devices is feasible and could enhance their performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Cells and Supercapacitors for Sustainable Energy Devices: A Review

et al. 2021

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Hybrid systems have gained significant attention among researchers and scientists worldwide due to their ability to integrate solar cells and supercapacitors. Subsequently, this has led to rising demands for green energy, miniaturization and mini-electronic wearable devices. These hybrid devices will lead to sustainable energy becoming viable and fossil-fuel-based sources of energy gradually being replaced. A solar photovoltaic (SPV) system is an electronic device that mainly functions to convert photon energy to electrical energy using a solar power source. It has been widely used in developed countries given that they have advanced photovoltaic (PV) technology that reduces dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation. Furthermore, a supercapacitor is an alternative solution for replacing heavy batteries and it is a system with a prominent high power density and a long life cycle. Its unique properties of high capacitance with low voltage limits lead to this highly in-demand material being incorporated into goods and services that are produced by the electrical and electronics industries. It is another option for grid-based power or large batteries. Since supercapacitors have the ability to store huge amounts of energy, they allow for a novel system that integrates supercapacitors with solar cells in which energy generation and energy storage are combined into one system. This paper explores the common materials that are used for solar cells and supercapacitors, the working mechanisms, the effectiveness of the integrated device and the technical challenges that are encountered when refining this device. Hence, this review serves as a guide for choosing the right materials and methods in order to produce an integrated PV solar cell–energy storage device for various applications.

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“…[9] Efforts to date include the design of nearinfrared-absorbing organic semiconductors, [10] control of active layer thickness, [11] and development of highly transparent conducting electrodes. [12] Top-electrode materials are critical for achieving a high LUE in ST-OPVs. [12] Although various transparent conducting electrodes, such as metal oxidemetal hybrid film, metal nanowires, and ultrathin metals have been developed, [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] ST-OPVs with top electrodes have not be able to produce a high LUE.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…[12] Top-electrode materials are critical for achieving a high LUE in ST-OPVs. [12] Although various transparent conducting electrodes, such as metal oxidemetal hybrid film, metal nanowires, and ultrathin metals have been developed, [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] ST-OPVs with top electrodes have not be able to produce a high LUE. [14,15,20] Among various top-electrode materials, silver nanowire (Ag NW) is a promising material because of its low cost, high AVT, low sheet resistance, and facile solution processability.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rational Design of Highly Efficient Semi‐Transparent Organic Photovoltaics with Silver Nanowire Top Electrode via 3D Optical Simulation Study

Jeong

Biswas

Yoon

et al. 2021

Advanced Energy Materials

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100), which is widely used calculation method for ST-OPVs from a power conversion efficiency (PCE) and an average visible transmission (AVT). [8,9] New materials and engineering approaches are required to achieve a high PCE and a high AVT to clearly identify the shape of an object through ST-OPVs. [9] Efforts to date include the design of nearinfrared-absorbing organic semiconductors, [10] control of active layer thickness, [11] and development of highly transparent conducting electrodes. [12] Top-electrode materials are critical for achieving a high LUE in ST-OPVs. [12] Although various transparent conducting electrodes, such as metal oxidemetal hybrid film, metal nanowires, and ultrathin metals have been developed, [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] ST-OPVs with top electrodes have not be able to produce a high LUE. [14,15,20] Among various top-electrode materials, silver nanowire (Ag NW) is a promising material because of its low cost, high AVT, low sheet resistance, and facile solution processability. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Although diverse solution-processing methods have been used for the deposition of Ag NW top electrodes, ST-OPVs with Ag NW top electrode have only reported poor LUE values reported to date. [24][25][26] Optimization of ST-OPVs has been generally performed through experimental trial and error. Although optical simulation has been employed in a few reports, 2D optical simulation focuses on active layer thickness, not the top electrode of ST-OPVs, and homogenous 2D blocks of different constituent layers are considered, which is appropriate for devices based on nonporous bulk-metal electrodes with a 2D structure. Because 2D optical simulation does not consider light reflection or scattering from 3D structures of different layers or the void spaces between different nanostructures, it is difficult to adequately describe 3D networking structures such as Ag NWs. However, 3D optical simulation precisely considers irregular reflection, diffraction, and transmission of light, and can therefore take into account the structural inhomogeneity of different layers in ST-OPVs incorporating a top electrode with a 3D structure. To the best of our knowledge, no reports have been published on the use of 3D optical simulations to design ST-OPVs.Here, we describe the creation of efficient ST-OPVs through the rational design of an Ag NW top electrode via 3D optical simulation. Depending on Ag NW porosity, estimated AVT A key factor in improving semi-transparent organic photovoltaics (ST-OPVs) performance is achieving high light utilization efficiency (LUE). However, device performance can also be limited by the lack of understanding of light transmission and reflection within the device architecture, and the transmission of the top electrode in particular. Here, highly efficient ST-OPVs are reported via the rational design of silver nanowire (Ag NW) top electrodes via 3D optical simulation. Due to its careful consideration for the ST-OPV of the effect of the Ag NW networking struc...

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Recently-explored top electrode materials for transparent organic solar cells

Cited by 29 publications

References 166 publications

Recent Applications of Carbon Nanotubes in Organic Solar Cells

Recent Applications of Carbon Nanotubes in Organic Solar Cells

Integrating Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Cells and Supercapacitors for Sustainable Energy Devices: A Review

Rational Design of Highly Efficient Semi‐Transparent Organic Photovoltaics with Silver Nanowire Top Electrode via 3D Optical Simulation Study

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