Improved efficiency of hybrid organic photovoltaics by pulsed laser sintering of silver nanowire network transparent electrode

Joshua A. Spechler, Ken A. Nagamatsu, James Christopher Sturm, Craig B. Arnold

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this Research Article, we demonstrate pulsed laser processing of a silver nanowire network transparent conductor on top of an otherwise complete solar cell. The macroscopic pulsed laser irradiation serves to sinter nanowire-nanowire junctions on the nanoscale, leading to a much more conductive electrode. We fabricate hybrid silicon/organic heterojunction photovoltaic devices, which have ITO-free, solution processed, and laser processed transparent electrodes. Furthermore, devices which have high resistive losses show up to a 35% increase in power conversion efficiency after laser processing. We perform this study over a range of laser fluences, and a range of nanowire area coverage to investigate the sintering mechanism of nanowires inside of a device stack. The increase in device performance is modeled using a simple photovoltaic diode approach and compares favorably to the experimental data.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)10556-10562
Number of pages7
JournalACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume7
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - May 20 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science

Keywords

  • direct laser sintering
  • inorganic-organic heterojunction solar cell
  • nanowire network
  • solution processing
  • transparent electrode

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