Selective laser patterning in organic solar cells

Abstract

Selective laser patterning for integrative serious connection has been industrially established in inorganic thin film solar cells based on glass substrates since a few years. In organic solar cells (OSC) the used materials significantly differ in terms of their patterning behavior. Due to their processability by wet chemical methods inverted architectures are often preferred in organic solar cells which allow the patterning by ultrashort laser pulses in substrate and superstrate configuration. Starting with an introduction of the ablation mechanisms taking place in OSC thin films, an overview of the current state-of-the-art in laser patterning of organic solar cells is presented. Besides progress in research also current achievements in industrial applications are illustrated.