Efficient semitransparent small-molecule organic solar cells

We present semitransparent small-molecule organic solar cells (OSC) deposited by thermal evaporation onto indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrates. The devices employ ITO-free ultrathin metal layers as top electrodes, containing 1 nm metal surfactant interlayer for improved morphology. Using a bulk heterojunction of zinc phthalocyanine and C(60), sandwiched in between doped dedicated transport layers for efficient charge carrier extraction, power conversion efficiencies comparable to conventional OSC with an intransparent thick back electrode and similar device layout are achieved: the semitransparent OSC yield power conversion efficiencies well above 2% with external quantum efficiencies above 30%-40%. Organic light incoupling layers improve the transmission to up to 50% in the visible part of the optical spectrum.