Highly transmitted silver nanowires-SWCNTs conductive flexible film by nested density structure and aluminum-doped zinc oxide capping layer for flexible amorphous silicon solar cells

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2022.03.012

Abstract

Abstract:

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is widely used in transparent conductive films (TCFs); however, several disadvantages, such as high cost and toxicity of indium, limit its applications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop other materials that can replace ITO. Silver nanowires or single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have attracted considerable interest owing to their unique electrical, optical, and thermal stabilities, and thus, they are ideal for transparent electrodes for flexible or stretchable devices. In this study, we develop a novel architecture of composite TCFs on a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) flexible substrate. Herein, the silver nanowires-SWCNTs films with nested density structure were fabricated through ultrasonic spraying technology by varying the spraying width. For achieving enhanced transmittance, we combined the larger irregular grids and holes with fewer nanowires stacked in the longitudinal direction, more optical channels, and good carrier transport. Thereafter, aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) was used as capping to the structure for enhancing the optical properties of the TCFs. The silver nanowires-SWCNTs/AZO (ASA) bilayer was obtained in the optimized architecture, which showed superior optoelectronic performance to that shown by commercial ITO with a high optical transmittance of 92% at the wavelength of 550 nm and low sheet resistance of 17 Ω/sq. In the specially structured conductive film, the significant improvement in the transmittance and uniformity of the sheet resistance was attributed to the effective nanowire junction contact compared to that in ordinary structure of silver nanowires, which reduced the mean density of small clusters of nanowires. Compared with the silver nanowires-SWCNTs films, the ASA bilayer film exhibited excellent resistance to boiling, mechanical bending (10,000 cycles), and CO₂ plasma. Moreover, the sheet resistance of ASA changed slightly after the tape tests, thereby illustrating a strong adhesion to the PEN substrate after the enclosure of AZO. Meanwhile, the AZO capping layer can enhance the optical transmittance between 600 and 1500 nm. In addition, the amorphous silicon photovoltaic devices with flexible ASA TCFs exhibited a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.67%. After bending for 3000 times, the PCE was decreased to 8.20%, thereby demonstrating the potential of developed films to replace traditional ITO.

Key words: Silver nanowires-SWCNTs, Nested density, TCFs, Flexible substrate, Photovoltaic devices

Shunliang Gao, Xiaohui Zhao, Qi Fu, Tianchi Zhang, Jun Zhu, Fuhua Hou, Jian Ni, Chengjun Zhu, Tiantian Li, Yanlai Wang, Vignesh Murugadoss, Gaber A.M.Mersal, Mohamed M.Ibrahim, Zeinhom M.El-Bahy, Mina Huang, Zhanhu Guo. Highly transmitted silver nanowires-SWCNTs conductive flexible film by nested density structure and aluminum-doped zinc oxide capping layer for flexible amorphous silicon solar cells[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2022, 126: 152-160.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1. Preparation process of silver nanowires-SWCNTs/AZO (ASA) composite films.

Fig. 2. Surface SEM images of ASA composite films with sparse nested dense structure by different spraying widths.

Fig. 3. (a-c) AFM images of ASA composite films with sparse nested dense structure by different spraying widths; (d) surface depth and slope of the film in the 10-micron range at different spray widths (inset shows ASA composite films profile from AFM); and (e) schematic diagram of roughness slope model for different samples.

Fig. 4. Sheet resistance uniformity of the different ASA composite films with different spray widths.

Fig. 5. (a) Optical transmittance of ASA composite films with different spray widths (inset shows schematic diagram of nested density structural model and TEM images of the silver nanowires-SWCNTs and pure silver nanowires); (b) effect of AZO thickness on the optical transmittance of composite films (inset shows the ASA films transmission of T550, Taverage (400-1500 nm), and Taverage (600-1500 nm)).

Fig. 6. Sheet resistance of samples increases under: (a) the atmospheric condition; (b) CO2 plasma (inset shows the optical properties of actual samples); (c) boiling water condition with increasing time (inset shows the SEM images for silver nanowires-SWCNTs with and without AZO capping layer).

Fig. 7. (a) Bending test results of the optimized ASA composites and the ASA film (inset shows the bending test results of samples at different bending diameter and actual image of bending test); (b) sheet resistances of silver nanowires-SWCNTs networks and ASA composite flexible thin films with various peeling cycles.

Fig. 8. (a) Schematic diagram of the a-Si:H photovoltaic devices’ structure; (b) J-V curve of photovoltaic devices; (c) attenuation ratio of PCE after bending, the inset is the actual photo-conversion efficiency of photovoltaic devices with different ASA electrode; the SEM images of a-Si:H photovoltaic devices: (d) unbent testing; and (e) bent testing 3000 times; (f) the Ag and C element analysis of the SIMS in the devices.

Table 1. Parameters of amorphous silicon cells.

Solar cells with different spray widths	PCE (%)	V_oc (mV)	FF (%)	J_sc (mA/cm²)	R_s (Ω)
S1.5	6.44	817	59	13.4	60
S0.5	7.31	835	55	15.8	63
S1.5N0.5	8.67	830	60	17.3	44

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