Remarkable Improvement of Organic Solar Cells Lifetime with Zn-doped In₂O₃ Electrode as UV-blocking TCO

Abstract

We have studied the lifetime improvement of organic solar cells (OSCs) based on the conjugated polymer:fullerene blends using an ultra-violet (UV) blocking transparent conducting oxide (TCO). Without additional passivation films/layers or changing of structure, the performance of the OSC using UV blocking TCO was comparatively stable under the strong UV exposure. When 30 mW/cm² of UV was irradiated for 300 seconds, the V_OC and FF of the OSC without UV blocking TCO decreased to 87% and 64%, respectively. As a result, power conversion efficiency (PCE) decreased to 54%. However, the V_OC and FF of OSC with UV blocking TCO slightly decreased to 96% and 87%, respectively.

Keywords:

• Organic solar cells (OSCs)
• polymer
• ultra-violet (UV) blocking
• transparent conducting oxide (TCO)
• stability

Funding

This work was supported by the Gyeongbuk Science & Technology Promotion Center (GBSP) grant funded by the Korea government (MEST). (gbsp-003-121101-001)