Improving temperature-stable AZO–Ag–AZO multilayer transparent electrodes using thin Al layer modification

Abstract

The thermal stability of AZO/Al/Ag/Al/AZO (5A) compared with AZO/Ag/AZO (3A) electrodes was significantly improved by introducing a thin Al layer at the interface between Ag and AZO layers. The rapidly deteriorated sheet resistance of 3A compared with 5A electrodes is roughly consistent with the XRD results of weaker intensity of the (1 1 1) Ag peak of 3A after annealing for 20 h at 300 or 500 °C for 10 min. The improved thermal stability of the 5A electrode is ascribed to the limitation function of Al atoms on Ag diffusion into the AZO layer. The polymer solar cells based on 5A compared with ITO electrodes showed a similar efficiency.