Optimization of a polymer top electrode for inverted semitransparent organic solar cells

We report on semitransparent organic solar cells using a single-layer blend based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the top electrode. The PEDOT:PSS blend was prepared by mixing a high-conductivity formulation of PEDOT:PSS (H.C. Starck CLEVIOS PH-1000) and another formulation of PEDOT:PSS (H.C. Starck CLEVIOS CPP 105D). The PEDOT:PSS blend yields good wetting properties on the hydrophobic surface of a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM), and shows a conductivity over 400 S cm−1. Semitransparent organic solar cells using the PEDOT:PSS blend as the top electrode with a structure of glass/ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PC60BM/PEDOT:PSS-blend exhibited an average power conversion efficiency of 2.4% estimated for 100 mW cm−2 AM 1.5G illumination.

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► Semitransparent organic solar cells were demonstrated with a PEDOT:PSS blend as the top electrode fabricated by one-step spin-coating processing.
► The PEDOT:PSS blend yielded a high conductivity of 420 S cm-1 and its solution showed good wetting properties on the hydrophobic surface of an organic active layer.
► The power conversion efficiency of the semitransparent solar cells reached 2.4% estimated for 100 mW cm-2 AM 1.5G illumination.