Spray coated silver nanowires as transparent electrodes in OPVs for Building Integrated Photovoltaics applications

Abstract

The application of spray coated silver nanowires (AgNWs) onto OPVs for building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) is demonstrated. By using AgNWs with PEDOT:PSS, a transparent conductive layer was demonstrated on top of an P3HT:PCBM active layer with a sheet resistance of 30Ω/ for 90% transparency. This has been applied to two separate configurations; semi-transparent OPVs for solar glazing applications and OPVs onto an opaque substrate, namely steel. For the latter, a novel technique to planarise the steel substrate with an intermediate layer is also presented, with a substantial decrease in surface roughness reported to ensure that the substrate is smooth enough to use for OPV fabrication. The use of SU-8 as an intermediate layer reduced the surface roughness to R A = 10nm, which is one of the lowest values reported to date, and was achieved on a low cost substrate (DC01 low carbon steel) using solution processing.

High performing AgNW transparent conducting electrodes with a sheet resistance of 2.5 Ω Sq−1 based upon a roll-to-roll compatible post-processing technique

“…4,[7][8][9] These properties make them a candidate for applications such as sensors and detectors, touch screens, flat panel displays, OLEDs, light emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), printed PVs and layers for heated windows. [10][11][12] However, challenges such as long-term environmental stability, 13 contact resistance to the active materials, 14 high surface roughness, electrical shorting problems and scalable fabrication must be overcome to fully integrate these new electrodes into commercial devices. 15 These factors limit a more extensive use of TCE films based on silver nanowires, despite the emergence of companies such as Cambrios (US), C3 Nano (US), Seashell Technology (owned by BASF), and Toppan printing, who are currently offering silver nanowire (AgNW) suspensions.…”

Printable Organic Semiconductors for Radiation Detection: From Fundamentals to Fabrication and Functionality

“…The main solution-based fabrication techniques that are compatible across each of these size scales include technologies such as slot-die coating, screen printing, flexographic printing, gravure coating, electrospraying, and inkjet printing (Figure 6) [103,111,[117][118][119][120][121]. These techniques each have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, but all use the same principle of transferring an ink from a solution reservoir to a solid substrate using various mediums to pattern the ink deposition as desired.…”

Building intermixed donor–acceptor architectures for water-processable organic photovoltaics

“…1 Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are an attractive option which have received increasing attention in recent years, due to their potential as low-cost, light-weight, semitransparent and flexible devices, allowing for their use in applications for which conventional silicon-based PVs are unsuitable. [2][3][4][5] Record efficiencies of OPV devices have now increased beyond 14%, 6 and lifetimes greater than 5 years have been measured under operating conditions. 7 One specific draw-back of many of the current higher-performing OPV designs is that photoactive layers are generally deposited from toxic organic solvents.…”