Flexible perovskite solar cells based on AgNW/ATO composite transparent electrodes

Abstract

Silver nanowire (AgNW) transparent electrodes are promising for flexible perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to their low cost, high conductivity, high transmittance and roll-to-roll fabrication processes. We resolved problems with incorporating AgNW networks into PSCs such as smooth surface morphology, space filling and chemical stability by employing solution-deposition of conductive ATO nanoparticles onto pre-existing AgNW networks at low temperatures. AgNW/ATO composite transparent electrodes show a transmission of 76–82 % in the visible region with an excellent sheet resistance of 18 O sq−1, similar to the commercial PET/ITO transparent electrodes. To build up flexible PSCs, we adopted an architecture in which the thin film of CH3NH3PbI3 was sandwiched between the ZnO (as the electron-selective layer) and carbon electrode (as the hole-selective layer) on the AgNW/ATO composite transparent electrodes. Under AM 1.5 G and 100 mW cm−2 simulated sunlight illumination, the flexible PSCs based on AgNW/ATO composite transparent electrodes achieved PCEs of 5.07 %. The flexible devices maintained their performance after 100 bending cycles at 6 mm radius of curvature.