Transparent conductive electrodes based on co-sputtered ultra-thin metal layers for semi-transparent perovskites solar cells

Back contact transparent conductive electrodes are essential components of semi-transparent perovskite solar cells, which are especially beneficial for tandem photovoltaics. In this Letter, we present a way to realize ultrathin metal layers in ITO-metal-ITO (IMI) electrode stacks, which are characterized by the superior infrared transmittance and electrical conductivity. The metal layers are deposited by the co-sputtering technique, which enables the realization of smooth metallic films, as thin as 5nm. We applied the IMI electrodes to flexible high bandgap perovskite solar cells and demonstrated that the IMI electrodes based on the co-sputtered metals are outperforming the standard ITO electrodes in terms of cell performance, while maintaining similar transmission values. Furthermore, we show that the IMI electrodes are significantly more flexible than the standard ITO and, thus, are more suitable for flexible optoelectronic devices. The co-sputtering technique is compatible with the industrial production process. Overall, the co-sputtered IMI stack presented in this work paves the way for the commercial utilization of semi-transparent (visible or near-infrared range) photovoltaic devices, including high-efficiency tandem applications and window-integrated photovoltaics.

Automated summary

This study introduces a new type of IMI electrode structure, realized through co-sputtering technique, which deposits ultra-thin metal layers to improve cell performance while maintaining high transmittance. The IMI electrodes are more flexible and suitable for flexible optoelectronic devices compared to standard ITO electrodes.