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Solution-processed copper nanowire flexible transparent electrodes with PEDOT:PSS as binder, protector and oxide-layer scavenger for polymer solar cells

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Abstract

The easy oxidation and surface roughness of Cu nanowire (NW) films are the main bottlenecks for their usage in transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs). Herein, we have developed a facile and scaled-up solution route to prepare Cu NW-based TCEs by embedding Cu NWs into pre-coated smooth poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrates. The so obtained Cu NW-PEDOT:PSS/PET films have low surface roughness (∼70 nm in height), high stability toward oxidation and good flexibility. The optimal TCEs show a typical sheet resistance of 15 Ω·sq−1 at high transparency (76% at λ = 550 nm) and have been used successfully to make polymer (poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) solar cells, giving an efficiency of 1.4%. The overall properties of Cu NW-PEDOT:PSS/PET films demonstrate their potential application as a replacement for indium tin oxide in flexible solar cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nan**g University of Posts & Telecommunications (NUPT), Nan**g, 210046, China

    Jianyu Chen, Weixin Zhou, Jun Chen, Yong Fan, Ziqiang Zhang, Zhendong Huang, **aomiao Feng, Baoxiu Mi, Yanwen Ma & Wei Huang

  2. Jiangsu-Singapore Joint Research Center for Organic/Bio-Electronics & Information Displays and Institute of Advanced Materials, Nan**g Tech University, Nan**g, 211816, China

    Wei Huang

Authors
  1. Jianyu Chen
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  2. Weixin Zhou
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  3. Jun Chen
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  4. Yong Fan
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  5. Ziqiang Zhang
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  6. Zhendong Huang
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  7. **aomiao Feng
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  8. Baoxiu Mi
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  9. Yanwen Ma
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  10. Wei Huang
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Correspondence to **aomiao Feng, Yanwen Ma or Wei Huang.

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Chen, J., Zhou, W., Chen, J. et al. Solution-processed copper nanowire flexible transparent electrodes with PEDOT:PSS as binder, protector and oxide-layer scavenger for polymer solar cells. Nano Res. 8, 1017–1025 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-014-0583-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-014-0583-z

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