Solution-processed silver nanowires as a transparent conducting electrode for air-stable inverted organic solar cells

• Solution-processed silver nanowires (Ag NWs) as a transparent conducting electrode
• Ag NW-based high-performance inverted organic solar cell (IOSCs)
• IOSC performance > 94% of that of devices with indium tin oxide electrodes

Highly efficient and air-stable inverted organic solar cells (IOSCs) were fabricated using solution-processed silver nanowire electrodes. The electrodes showed a low sheet resistance of ~ 16 Ω sq− 1 and a high transmittance of ~ 95% at a wavelength of 550 nm. A solution-processed ZnO buffer layer is typically used for electron transport and effective passivation of the surface of Ag NW electrodes. The device performance of the IOSCs that used these Ag NW electrodes, which were fabricated on a glass or plastic substrate, was > 94% of that of devices containing indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. This indicates that solution-processed Ag NW electrode can replace commercialized ITO and can be utilized in roll-to-roll and large-area fabrication processes.