Solution-Processed Metallic Nanowire Electrodes as Indium Tin Oxide Replacement for Thin-Film Solar Cells

Solution processed silver nanowire (Ag NW) films are introduced as transparent electrodes for thin-film solar cells. Ag NW electrodes were processed by doctor blade-coating on glass substrates at moderate temperatures (less than 100 degrees C). The morphological, optical, and electrical characteristics of these electrodes were investigated as a function of processing parameters. For solar-cell application, Ag NW electrodes with an average transparency of 90% between 450 and 800 nm and a sheet resistivity of 10 O per square were chosen. The performance of poly(3-hexylthiophen-2,5-diyl):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) solar cells on Ag NW electrodes was found to match the performance of otherwise identical cells on indium tin oxide. Overall, P3HT:PCBM solar cells with an efficiency of 2.5% on transparent Ag NW electrodes have been realized.