Silver Nanowire Networks as a Transparent Printable Electrode for Organic Photovoltaic Cells

Solution-processable AgNW electrodes are prepared by our mechanical press process and applied for organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. OPV cells using the AgNW electrodes exhibit good power conversion efficiencies of 3.05% even with that of ITO electrode (3.06%). Our mechanical press process enable to make OPV cell with standard device structure of Glass/AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS/Organic layer/Al. Conventional AgNW electrode fabrication methods were not able to apply the standard device structure because of their high roughness. Our methods open a new application route of AgNWs as the transparent electrodes for OPV cells. The OPV cell performances indicate their high potential the AgNWs for a photovoltaic electrode as an alternative material for the conventional ITO electrode. Furthermore, our AgNW fabrication process is suitable to make an electrode on organic-based substrate materials, especially for paper fabricated from natural cellulose. The results showed in this report will open the door of paper electronics.