Enhancing the Durability and Efficiency of Flexible Semi-Transparent Organic Solar Cells With Silver Mesh Electrode

Abstract

The performance of organic solar cells (OSCs), particularly flexible semi-transparent OSCs (ST-OSCs), is often limited by the use of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, which are prone to cracking under bending and thus compromise device performance. This study introduces a novel silver mesh electrode (Ag-mesh) as a substitute for ITO in ST-OSCs. The Ag-mesh electrodes demonstrated optimal performance at a thermal imprinting temperature of 130 °C, with minimal line breakage and preserved optoelectronic properties. Compared to ITO electrodes, ST-OSCs with Ag-mesh electrodes showed superior mechanical stability, retaining over 90% of their initial performance after 1000 bending cycles, and an impressive retention of nearly 87% of their initial power conversion efficiency (PCE). The devices based on Ag-mesh electrodes also exhibited higher fill factor (FF) and better light response, aligning with higher conductivity and transmittance of the Ag-mesh electrodes. This research offers a significant contribution to the field by providing a durable and efficient alternative to ITO electrodes in flexible ST-OSCs. The Ag-mesh electrodes not only match but exceed the performance of ITO electrodes in terms of efficiency and stability, marking a substantial step forward in the development of flexible and semi-transparent solar cell technology.