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Carbon: The Ultimate Electrode Choice for Widely Distributed Polymer Solar Cells
Author(s) -
dos Reis Benatto Gisele A.,
Roth Bérenger,
Madsen Morten V.,
Hösel Markus,
Søndergaard Roar R.,
Jørgensen Mikkel,
Krebs Frederik C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201400732
Subject(s) - materials science , roll to roll processing , organic solar cell , carbon fibers , flexibility (engineering) , photovoltaic system , electrode , indium tin oxide , coating , electronics , nanotechnology , manufacturing cost , polymer , process engineering , composite material , mechanical engineering , thin film , electrical engineering , engineering , statistics , chemistry , mathematics , composite number
As mass‐produced, low‐cost organic electronics enter our everyday lives, so does the waste from them. The challenges associated with end‐of‐life management must be addressed by careful design and carbon‐based electrodes are central to these developments. Here, the reproducible production of vacuum‐, indium tin oxide (ITO)‐, and silver‐free solar cells in a fully packaged form using only roll‐to‐roll processing is reported. Replacing silver with carbon as electrode material significantly lowers the manufacturing cost and makes the organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules environmentally safe while retaining their flexibility, active area efficiency, and stability. The substitution of silver with carbon does not affect the roll‐to‐roll manufacturing of the modules and allows for the same fast printing and coating. The use of carbon as electrode material is one step closer to the wide release of low‐cost plastic solar cells and opens the door to new possible applications where silver recycling is not manageable.