Continuous roll-to-roll fabrication of organic photovoltaic cells via interconnected high-vacuum and low-pressure organic vapor phase deposition systems

We demonstrate continuous roll-to-roll (R2R) fabrication of single junction and tandem organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells on flexible plastic substrates employing a system that integrates organic deposition by high vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE) and low pressure organic vapor phase deposition (OVPD). By moving the substrate from chamber to chamber and then depositing films on stationary substrates, we achieve power conversion efficiencies of PCE = 8.6 +/- 0.3% and 8.9 +/- 0.2% for the single junction and tandem cells, respectively. Single junction OPVs are also fabricated on a continuously translating substrate at 0.3 cm/s, to achieve PCE = 8.5 +/- 0.2%. Thin films grown on translating substrates by OVPD show <3% thickness non-uniformity and 0.66 nm root mean square surface roughness, similar to that obtained by VTE. Our results suggest that R2R film deposition comprising multiple vapor deposition technologies is a promising method for rapid speed and continuous manufacturing of high quality, small molecular weight organic electronic materials. Published by AIP Publishing.