Transparent and tandem solar cells using solution-processed metal nanowire transparent electrodes

Abstract

Tandem architectures in which multiple energy gaps are combined in a series-connected stack of solar cells are seen as a promising approach to increasing the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells to commercially relevant values. Even higher efficiencies can be obtained if the photocurrent-matching requirement of such tandem cells is removed by the use of intermediate electrodes in multi-terminal multijunction cells. We demonstrate semi-transparent organic solar cells and multi-terminal multijunction organic photovoltaic cells using a laminated metal nanowire mesh as a low-cost, high-performance intermediate electrode that can be deposited using a lamination process without damaging the fragile organic layers. Photocurrent matching is not required in the multi-terminal architecture. With adequate material combinations, this cell architecture can be used to build organic solar cells with efficiencies >10%.