Upscalable and semi-transparent organic photovoltaics for energy- generating windows Brendan Coles 1 , Professor Trystan Watson 1 , Dr. Su Varma 2 1 Swansea University, UK, 2 NSG-Pilkington, UK Organic Photovoltaics (OPVs) have shown tremendous progress over the last decade, with Power Conversion Efficiencies (PCEs) now exceeding 18% 1 . More than just efficient, OPVs are well-suited to niche applications such as semi-transparency and flexible photovoltaics (PV), areas in which conventional PV struggles [2]. In particular, semi-transparent OPVs show promising results in their integration as solar cells into windows for Buildings-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) 2 . While much progress has been made in OPVs in the development of novel active layer materials, a major challenge lies in the development of electrode materials which could be upscalable and semi-transparent. A significant body of work exists in the use of nanoparticle-based materials such as carbon nanotubes or silver nanowires as electrode materials, their relative toxicity and complex processing leaves much to be desired 3 in this work, an alternative to nanoparticle-based electrodes is researched in the form of polymer-based materials - specifically, PEDOT:PSS. A novel approach is taken to increasing the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS specifically for its application as the counter-electrode in OPVs and the investigation of doing so using methods such as methanol washing and acid doping is outlined. Further, an investigation into the replacement of Indium-doped Tin-Oxide (ITO) as a bottom electrode with the much cheaper Fluorine-doped Tin- Oxide (FTO) 4 is outlined. Specifically, the use of a novel, commercially-produced planarized FTO substrate as an alternative to regular un-planarized FTO in upscalable OPVs is described. Combining both previously described methods, a substantially more upscalable OPV with a PCE of over 2% is achieved, with much further work ready to be conducted with the aim of achieving a PCE of over 4% whilst retaining the high level of upscalability and transparency shown in this work. References 1. Li S, Fu Q, Meng L, Wan X, Ding L, Lu G, Lu G, Yao Z, Li C, Chen Y. Achieving over 18 % Efficiency Organic Solar Cell Enabled by a ZnO-Based Hybrid Electron Transport Layer with an Operational Lifetime up to 5 Years. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2022 Aug 22;61(34):e202207397. doi: 10.1002/anie.202207397. Epub 2022 Jul 14. PMID: 35765215. 2. Li, Y. W., Xu, G. Y., Cui, C. H., Li, Y. F., Adv. Energy Mater. 2018, 8, 1701791. https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201701791 3. Health Impact of Silver Nanoparticles: A Review of the Biodistribution and Toxicity Following Various Routes of Exposure, DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072375 4. Amirah Way, Joel Luke, Alex D. Evans, Zhe Li, Ji-Seon Kim, James R. Durrant, Harrison Ka Hin Lee, and Wing C. Tsoi, "Fluorine doped tin oxide as an alternative of indium tin oxide for bottom electrode of semi-transparent organic photovoltaic devices", AIP Advances9, 085220(2019)https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5104333
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