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Processability Issue in Inverted Organic Solar Cells

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Abstract

Though impressive progress on the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs) has been made, their practical use is still hampered due to their inherent poor stability. Under ambient conditions the long term stability of non-encapsulated organic solar cells with conventional device architecture is lower than the technical lifetime of devices with an inverted configuration. The removal of the interface between the ITO (indium tin oxide) layer and the acidic PEDOT:PSS layer along with the substitution of a low work function metal electrode with a high work function metal electrode in the inverted device configuration renders relatively higher stability in these devices. Though encouraging device performance (with respect to both stability and efficiency) is seen in inverted organic solar cells, there exists a few technical challenges in the fabrication of these devices namely (1) processability; (2) light-soaking and (3) stability. In this short review we will focus on tackling the processability issue of the device fabrication. Firstly, an overview of recent developments of inverted organic solar cells (IOSC) using various photoactive layers and charge transport layers will be presented. Secondly, the inferior wettability of the hydrophilic PEDOT:PSS hole transport layer onto the photoactive layer such as the P3HT:PCBM blend, which is hydrophobic in nature will be discussed. Thirdly, we will summarize how this issue was addressed successfully and finally, a brief conclusion and an outlook for solution-processed inverted organic solar cells will be presented.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117574, Singapore

    F. J. Lim

  2. SRM Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamilnadu, 603203, India

    A. Krishnamoorthy

Authors
  1. F. J. Lim
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  2. A. Krishnamoorthy
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to F. J. Lim or A. Krishnamoorthy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Chem., Fac. of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

    Ponnadurai Ramasami

  2. Dept. of Chem., Fac. of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

    Minu Gupta Bhowon

  3. Dept. of Chem., Fac. of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

    Sabina Jhaumeer Laulloo

  4. Dept. of Chem., Fac. of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

    Henri Li Kam Wah

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Lim, F.J., Krishnamoorthy, A. (2018). Processability Issue in Inverted Organic Solar Cells. In: Ramasami, P., Gupta Bhowon, M., Jhaumeer Laulloo, S., Li Kam Wah, H. (eds) Emerging Trends in Chemical Sciences. ICPAC 2016. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60408-4_24

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