Critical Impact of Hole Transporting Layers and Back Electrode on the Stability of Flexible Organic Photovoltaic Module

Hyoung Jin Son, Sung Hyun Kim, Dong Hwan Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Properties of hole transporting layers (HTLs) and back electrode are very critical to the stability of inverted bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules. Here, various deposition methods for back electrodes and materials of HTLs are examined by applying to inverted organic solar cells with a structure of indium tin oxide/ZnO/photoactive layer/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/Ag. The experiment is performed on encapsulated modules with flexible barrier films under accelerated conditions. The OPV modules with screen-printed Ag electrodes are shown to be electrically unstable with a reduction of the current density under damp heat condition at 85 °C/85% RH. Optical images for the active layer/PEDOT:PSS interface reveal that a reaction between the solvent from the Ag electrode and the underlying layers is the major cause for the degradation. In comparison with materials of the HTLs, the PEDOT:PSS layer shows low stability compared to the MoO3 layer under the accelerated conditions. Unusual chemical changes in the PEDOT:PSS film are observed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and this is further addressed by correlating the stability of the OPV devices.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1601289
JournalAdvanced Energy Materials
Volume7
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017 Mar 8

Keywords

  • Ag ink
  • PEDOT:PSS
  • accelerated test
  • organic photovoltaics
  • stability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Materials Science(all)

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