Production of large-area polymer solar cells by industrial silk screen printing, lifetime considerations and lamination with polyethyleneterephthalate

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells 2004-06, Vol.83 (2), p.293-300
• Main Authors: Krebs, Frederik C., Alstrup, Jan, Spanggaard, Holger, Larsen, Kaj, Kold, Esben
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Efficiencies; Lamination and encasement; Large area polymer solar cells; Lifetimes
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2004.02.031

The possibility of making large area (100 cm 2) polymer solar cells based on the conjugated polymer poly 1,4-(2-methoxy-5-ethylhexyloxy)phenylenevinylene (MEH-PPV) was demonstrated. Devices were prepared by etching an electrode pattern on ITO covered polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) substrates. A pattern of conducting silver epoxy allowing for electrical contacts to the device was silk screen printed and hardened. Subsequently a pattern of MEH-PPV was silk screen printed in registry with the ITO electrode pattern on top of the substrate. Final evaporation of an aluminum electrode or sublimation of a Buckminsterfullerene (C 60) layer followed by an aluminum electrode completed the device. The typical efficiency of the prototype devices consisting of three solar cells in series were 0.0046% (under AM1.5 conditions) with open-circuit voltages ( V oc) of 0.73 V and short-circuit currents ( I sc) of 20 μA cm −2. The half-life based on I sc in air for the devices were 63 h. The cells were laminated in a 125 μm PET encasement. Lamination had a negative effect on the lifetime.We demonstrate the feasibility of industrial production of large area solar cells (1 m 2) by silk screen printing and envisage the possibility of production volumes 10000 m 2 h −1 at a cost that is on the order of 100 times lower than that of the established monocrystalline silicon solar cells in terms of materials cost.