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Square‐Centimeter‐Sized High‐Efficiency Polymer Solar Cells: How the Processing Atmosphere and Film Quality Influence Performance at Large Scale
Author(s) -
Dkhil Sadok Ben,
Pfannmöller Martin,
Bals Sara,
Koganezawa Tomoyuki,
Yoshimoto Noriyuki,
Hannani Driss,
Gaceur Meriem,
VidelotAckermann Christine,
Margeat Olivier,
Ackermann Jörg
Publication year - 2016
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.201600290
Subject(s) - materials science , photoactive layer , indium tin oxide , organic solar cell , inert , polymer solar cell , photovoltaic system , optoelectronics , energy conversion efficiency , inert gas , layer (electronics) , electrode , sheet resistance , nanotechnology , composite material , polymer , chemistry , electrical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Organic solar cells based on two benzodithiophene‐based polymers (PTB7 and PTB7‐Th) processed at square centimeter‐size under inert atmosphere and ambient air, respectively, are investigated. It is demonstrated that the performance of solar cells processed under inert atmosphere is not limited by the upscaling of photoactive layer and the interfacial layers. Thorough morphological and electrical characterizations of optimized layers and corresponding devices reveal that performance losses due to area enlargement are only caused by the sheet resistance of the transparent electrode reducing the efficiency from 9.3% of 7.8% for PTB7‐Th in the condition that both photoactive layer and the interfacial layers are of high layer quality. Air processing of photoactive layer and the interfacial layers into centimeter‐sized solar cells lead to additional, but only slight, losses (<10%) in all photovoltaic parameters, which can be addressed to changes in the electronic properties of both active layer and ZnO layers rather than changes in layer morphology. The demonstrated compatibility of polymer solar cells using solution‐processed photoactive layer and interfacial layers with large area indicates that the introduction of a standard active area of 1 cm² for measuring efficiency of organic record solar cells is feasible. However electric standards for indium tin oxides (ITO) or alternative transparent electrodes need to be developed so that performance of new photovoltaic materials can be compared at square centimeter‐size.