Nanoimprint-assisted fabrication of high haze metal mesh electrode for solar cells

We propose a concept of transparent electrode for solar cells surpassing conventional transparent conductive oxide. Transparent electrode requires low electrical resistivity, high optical transparency, and high optical haze. Although transparent conductive oxide by chemical vapor deposition is widely used as a transparent electrode for solar cells, a breakthrough of the trade-off between electrical and optical properties is required for further improvement of solar cell efficiency. We demonstrate solution-processed electrode fabrication by using nanoimprint technology and metal nanoparticle ink. Silver mesh electrode is self-aligned on nanoimprinted texture with concave pattern as a template for mesh grid. Our electrode concept can realize desired high optical haze by nanoimprinted texture, as well as low electrical resistivity and high optical transparency by metal mesh electrode simultaneously, which boosts solar cell efficiency. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.