Solution-Processed Semitransparent Inverted Organic Solar Cells from a Transparent Conductive Polymer Electrode

Abstract

We fabricated a solution-processed semitransparent organic solar cell from a transparent conductive polymer electrode. The top metal electrode was replaced with a transparent conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The advantage of using the PEDOT:PSS conductive polymer is that organic solar cell (OPV) can be fabricated from solution process at plastic-compatible low temperature (<200°C). In addition, due to the absence of an opaque top metal electrode, the final OPVs exhibit semitransparency. The transmittance (T) of the final OPV was adjusted by changing the concentration of the organic materials in a solvent. As the concentration of the organic materials increased from 1.5 to 3.1%, the average weighted solar transmittance decreased from 53.9 to 45.2%. I-V characteristics of the OPVs with various transmittances were measured under the AM1.5G 100mW/m2 solar simulator, and the conversion efficiency was 1.2, 2.0, 1.3% for the OPV with T of 53.9, 51.2, 45.2%, respectively.