Hybrid crystalline-ITO/metal nanowire mesh transparent electrodes and their application for highly flexible perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Here, we propose crystalline indium tin oxide/metal nanowire composite electrode (c-ITO/metal NW-GFRHybrimer) films as a robust platform for flexible optoelectronic devices. A very thin c-ITO overcoating layer was introduced to the surface-embedded metal nanowire (NW) network. The c-ITO/metal NW-GFRHybrimer films exhibited outstanding mechanical flexibility, excellent optoelectrical properties and thermal/chemical robustness. Highly flexible and efficient metal halide perovskite solar cells were fabricated on the films. The devices on the c-ITO/AgNW- and c-ITO/CuNW-GFRHybrimer films exhibited power conversion efficiency values of 14.15% and 12.95%, respectively. A synergetic combination of the thin c-ITO layer and the metal NW mesh transparent conducting electrode will be beneficial for use in flexible optoelectronic applications. Reinforcing transparent electrodes with a nanowire mesh brings solar cells that can wrap around objects one step closer to production. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a rarity among metal oxide crystals – it is optically transparent and conductive enough to serve as electrodes in flat-panel displays and solar cells. Byeong-Soo Bae from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and co-workers have now discovered how to make ITO into 10-nanometre-thin, flexible electrodes using a resin embedded with metal nanowires. Normally, the high temperatures needed to produce ITO crystals degrade flexible polymer substrates. But the nanowires impart sufficient mechanical strength to keep the electrodes pliant after ITO heat treatment. Depositing perovskite-type crystals onto the electrodes enabled the researchers to fabricate bendable solar cells with power conversion efficiencies of 12-14%. Flexible, thermally/chemically robust and high-performance transparent conducting electrode platform (c-ITO/metal NW-GFRHybrimer film) is fabricated using surface-embedded metal nanowire and crystalline indium tin oxide hybrid electrode. Highly flexible perovskite devices are fabricated on the c-ITO/metal NW-GFRHybrimer and show mechanically stable performances.