Printing of Flexible, Large-Area Organic Photovoltaic Cells

Although organic solar cells have achieved the power conversion efficiency of 13% in laboratory, the commercialization of organic solar cells is still encountering many big challenges. This work aims to reduce the technical barriers on the way to the commercialization of organic solar cells, and centers on applying industrial compatible methods to produce flexible, large-area organic photovoltaic cells. Photoactive ink, green solvent, hole transport ink, and top Ag electrodes have been investigated. The key factors and rules for printing of efficient organic photovoltaic cells are analyzed and summarized. The fabricated flexible, large-area (~8 cm2) organic photovoltaic cells achieved an efficiency of ~1%. Further optimization of photoactive layers and the improvement of charge transport and charge collection are key factors to depress the recombination, enhance photocurrent, and improve the overall photovoltaic performance. This work could be easily transferred to the industry production of organic solar cells, provide directions as well and push one step forward to the commercialization of organic solar cells.