Flexible Organic Solar Cells Based on Self-assembly Modified Silver Nanowires Transparent Electrode

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are a kind of flexible transparent electrode material with superior flexibility and high conductivity. However, AgNWs-based transparent electrode films always suffer some problems, such as large surface roughness, poor adhesion to the substrate, and mismatching between its work function and energy level of the active layer. In this work, the embedded AgNWs in polyimide (PI) substrate was prepared by blade-coating method, which demonstrates the AgNWs transparent electrode with smooth surface. Pentafluorothiophenol (PFTP) was self-assembled on the surface of AgNWs through interaction between Ag and sulfhydryl group, so that the work function of AgNWs electrode is increased from - 4.88 eV to - 5.06 eV, rendering it more matched with the energy level of the active layer. Based on the PFTP-modified AgNWs/PI substrate, the flexible organic solar cell without hole transport layer was fabricated by blade coating, and a power conversion efficiency of 11.77% was obtained. This work provides a novel idea for the preparation and work function regulation of AgNWs-based flexible electrode/substrate, and suggests a simple and effective method for the development of efficient flexible organic solar cells based on AgNWs flexible electrode.