Spraycoating of silver nanoparticle electrodes for inverted polymer solar cells

Inverted polymer solar cells using non-vacuum processed spraycoated silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) as the anode electrode were compared to vacuum deposited Ag electrodes. The number of spray coating layers can affect its final device performance showing with a higher number of coating layers, a better nanoparticle interconnectivity and morphology is achieved which reduces the sheet resistance and transparency of the Ag electrode leading to improved fill factor and device performances (similar to 3.0%). These devices can be fabricated onto flexible ITO substrates devices showing a performance of similar to 1.40%. Using a non-vacuum technique to deposit the electrode is important for low-cost polymer solar cells. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.