Fully Solution-Processed Small Molecule Semitransparent Solar Cells: Optimization of Transparent Cathode Architecture and Four Absorbing Layers

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 26; no. 25; pp. 4543 - 4550
• Main Authors: Min, Jie, Bronnbauer, Carina, Zhang, Zhi-Guo, Cui, Chaohua, Luponosov, Yuriy N., Ata, Ibrahim, Schweizer, Peter, Przybilla, Thomas, Guo, Fei, Ameri, Tayebeh, Forberich, Karen, Spiecker, Erdmann, Bäuerle, Peter, Ponomarenko, Sergei A., Li, Yongfang, Brabec, Christoph J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 05-07-2016
• Subjects: Architecture; building integrated photovoltaics; Cathodes; Diimide; Electrodes; interface bilayer; Nanowires; Photovoltaic cells; power conversion efficiency; semitransparent solar cells; small molecule; Solar cells; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201505411

Semitransparent solar cells (SSCs) can open photovoltaic applications in many commercial areas, such as power‐generating windows and building integrated photovoltaics. This study successfully demonstrates solution‐processed small molecule SSCs with a conventional configuration for the presently tested material systems, namely BDTT‐S‐TR:PC70BM, N(Ph‐2T‐DCN‐Et)3:PC70BM, SMPV1:PC70BM, and UU07:PC60BM. The top transparent cathode coated through solution processes employs a highly transparent silver nanowire as electrode together with a combination interface bilayer of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) and a perylene diimide derivative (PDINO). This ZnO/PDINO bilayer not only serves as an effective cathode buffer layer but also acts as a protective film on top of the active layer. With this integrated contribution, this study achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.62% for fully solution‐processed SSCs based on BDTT‐S‐TR system. Furthermore, the other three systems with various colors exhibited the PCEs close to 3% as expected from simulations, demonstrate the practicality and versatility of this printed semitransparent device architecture for small mole­cule systems. This work amplifies the potential of small molecule solar cells for window integration.
Small molecule semitransparent solar cells are successfully demonstrated with conventional structure using a zinc oxide nanoparticles and a perylene diimide with N‐oxide as electron extraction bilayer and silver nanowire as the top transparent electrode.