Polymer Brush Guided Formation of Conformal, Plasmonic Nanoparticle-Based Electrodes for Microwire Solar Cells

This report explores the use of sacrificial thin polymer films prepared by surface‐initiated polymerization as a template for the fabrication of highly conformal metal nanoparticle solar cell electrodes. As a first proof‐of‐principle, the use of this method is demonstrated to prepare top electrodes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advanced functional materials 2015-07, Vol.25 (25), p.3958-3965
Main Authors: Sugnaux, Caroline, Mallorquí, Anna Dalmau, Herriman, Jane, Klok, Harm-Anton, Morral, Anna Fontcuberta i
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Devices
Electrodes
light scattering
microwires
Nanostructure
Photovoltaic cells
Plasmonics
plasmons
polymer brushes
Polymerization
Scattering
Solar cells
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Summary:This report explores the use of sacrificial thin polymer films prepared by surface‐initiated polymerization as a template for the fabrication of highly conformal metal nanoparticle solar cell electrodes. As a first proof‐of‐principle, the use of this method is demonstrated to prepare top electrodes on planar and microwire‐based silicon solar cell devices. These metal nanoparticle films are dual functional in that they not only mediate charge transport, but also enhance light capture due to the plasmonic scattering properties of the nanoparticles. Solar cells with a conformal silver nanoparticle‐based electrode layer show short circuit currents that are 46% higher as compared to those exhibit by devices coated with standard indium tin oxide as the electrode. It is anticipated that this methodology will contribute to novel electrode concepts in the next generation solar cells. Sacrificial thin polymer films prepared by surface‐initiated polymerization are used as a template for the fabrication of highly conformal metal nanoparticle solar cell electrodes. These metal nanoparticle films are dual functional in that they not only mediate charge transport, but also enhance light capture due to the plasmonic scattering properties of the nanoparticles.
ISSN:1616-301X
1616-3028
DOI:10.1002/adfm.201404235