Semi-Transparent Organic Photovoltaic Cells with Dielectric/Metal/Dielectric Top Electrode: Influence of the Metal on Their Performances

Abstract

In order to grow semi-transparent organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs), multilayer dielectric/metal/dielectric (D/M/D) structures are used as a transparent top electrode in inverted OPVs. Two different electrodes are probed, MoO3/Ag/MoO3 and MoO3/Ag/Cu:Ag/ZnS. Both of them exhibit high transmission in visible and small sheet resistance. Semi-transparent inverted OPVs using these electrodes as the top anode are probed. The active organic layers consist in the SubPc/C60 couple. The dependence of the OPV performances on the top electrode was investigated. The results show that far better results are achieved when the top anode MoO3/Ag/MoO3 is used. The OPV efficiency obtained was only 20% smaller in comparison with the opaque OPV, but with a transparency of nearly 50% in a broad range of the visible light (400–600 nm). In the case of MoO3/Ag/Cu:Ag/ZnS top anode, the small efficiency obtained is due to the presence of some Cu diffusion in the MoO3 layer, which degrades the contact anode/organic material.

Recent advances in subphthalocyanines and related subporphyrinoids

“…359 The authors suggested that this enhancement is due to a higher work function of such anode and a better SubPc absorption triggered by the light scattering of ITO/ZnO surface. Additional strategies, such as the use of patterned and multilayer electrodes, 360,361 metallic nanocavities, 362 or ITO treated with O 2 plasma 363 have also yielded promising results. In addition, other studies have been recently devoted to tuning the work function of ITO by physical or chemical functionalization with Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers or benzenesulfonyl chlorides, respectively.…”

Design and fabrication of a semi-transparent solar cell considering the effect of the layer thickness of MoO3/Ag/MoO3 transparent top contact on optical and electrical properties

“…DMD designs offer high transparency and conductivity, low turbidity, excellent flexibility, easy fabrication and excellent compatibility with different substrates 24 – 36 . Therefore, it is clear that ST DMDs have a strong future, especially in ST optoelectronic devices 15 , 20 , 37 – 40 . An ST DMD electrode is designed to be able to fabricate ultra-thin metallic films and to improve the conductivity and flexibility of indium tin oxide (ITO).…”

“…DMD electrodes have taken a vital place in the design of OSC structures as ST. Even if the OSCs are grown over ITO, it is possible to make the opaque top contact transparent and the SC to become ST with the appropriate design of DMD structures 40 . It is noteworthy that DMD structures have simple fabrication processes and simple designs that do not require microscale or nanoscale shaping, such as photonic crystals 42 , 43 .…”

Introduction of a Novel Figure of Merit for the Assessment of Transparent Conductive Electrodes in Photovoltaics: Exact and Approximate Form

“…[ 1,2 ] Furthermore, adequate mechanical flexibility is shown by DMD structured electrodes owing to the good ductility of metals, which also enables the application of DMD electrodes in flexible optoelectronic devices. [ 69 ] Several TCEs based on DMD structure—ZnS/Cu:Ag/WO 3 , [ 70 ] AZO/Ag/AZO, [ 71 ] MoO 3 /Ag/MoO 3 , [ 72 ] ZnS/Cu/Ag/ZnS, [ 73 ] and AZO/AgNW/AZO/ZnO [ 74 ] electrodes were evaluated in this study.…”