Graphene transparent conductive electrodes doped with graphene quantum dots-mixed silver nanowires for highly-flexible organic solar cells

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 744; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Shin, Dong Hee, Seo, Sang Woo, Kim, Jong Min, Lee, Ha Seung, Choi, Suk-Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 05.05.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Curvature; Electrical resistivity; Electrodes; Energy conversion efficiency; Flexibility; Graphene; Graphene quantum dots; Nanowires; Organic chemistry; Organic solar cell; Photovoltaic cells; Polyethylene terephthalate; Quantum dots; Silver; Silver nanowires; Solar cells; Substrates; Silver nanowires; Graphene; Flexibility; Organic solar cell; Graphene quantum dots
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.02.069

Recent active studies on flexible photovoltaic cells strongly call for matchable flexible transparent electrodes. Graphene (GR) is one of the promising candidates as transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) for flexible photovoltaic cells, but high sheet resistance of GR limits the efficiency of the cells. Here, we first fabricate GR TCEs doped with graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-mixed silver nanowires (Ag NWs) on polyethylene terephthalate substrates for highly-flexible organic solar cells (OSCs). With increasing doping concentration of GQDs to 0.03 g/L, the sheet resistance of the Ag NWs/GR TCE decreases to ∼92 Ω/sq whilst its work function increases to ∼4.53 eV, resulting in 3.66% power-conversion efficiency (PCE). In addition, the GQDs enhance the bending flexibility of the Ag NWs/GR TCEs, thereby maintaining the initial PCE of the OSCs over 90% even after 1000 bending cycles at a curvature radius of 4 mm. •First use of graphene transparent conductive electrodes doped with graphene quantum dots-mixed silver nanowires.•Graphene quantum dots make the doped graphene more suitable for anode electrodes of organic solar cells.•Graphene quantum dots enhance the power-conversion efficiency of organic solar cells to 3.66%.•Graphene quantum dots enhance the bending flexibility of organic solar cells.