ITO-Free, Small-Molecule Organic Solar Cells on Spray-Coated Copper-Nanowire-Based Transparent Electrodes

The great potential of solution‐processed metal nanowire networks utilized as a transparent electrode has attracted much attention in the last years. Typically, silver nanowires are applied, although their replacement by more abundant and cheaper materials is of interest. Here, a hydrazine‐free synthesis route for high aspect ratio copper nanowires is used to prepare conductive networks showing an enhanced electrode performance. The network deposition is done with a scalable spray‐coating process on glass and on polymer foils. By a pressing or an annealing step, highly conductive transparent electrodes are obtained, and they reveal transmittance‐resistance values similar to indium tin oxide (ITO) and networks made of silver nanowires. The application potential of the copper nanowire electrodes is demonstrated by integrating them into an evaporated small‐molecule organic solar cell with 3% efficiency. Copper nanowires with high aspect ratios are synthesized and used as transparent electrodes. After different post‐treatment steps that address the insulating nanowire shells, the spray‐coated networks reveal a performance similar to indium tin oxide (ITO). The conductive networks show a reasonable stability and are integrated into a small‐molecule organic solar cell.