Optimization of the deposition of bilayer metallic electrodes for organic solar cells

塑料太阳能电池是一种新型的低成本光伏组件，其中的有源层由塑料薄膜、聚合物材料组成。这些塑料薄膜能够经济高效地将光转化为电能，可以使用许多可工业规模的技术轻松且廉价地组装，包括喷墨打印、旋涂和喷涂。在过去的几年里，人们已经发现了一些有机材料，它们的光转换效率高达10%，并优化了这些器件的有源层的最佳结构。相反，有效接触塑料太阳能电池的最佳程序，随着时间的推移，最大效率和最小的器件退化，仍然是一个争论的问题。我们的研发项目旨在解决在有机光伏聚合物有源层的顶部优化沉积两层金属电极这一具有根本性和技术挑战性的问题，并为工业合作伙伴Plamionique Inc.提供设计用于在塑料太阳能电池顶部组装金属触点的下一代沉积系统所需的独特知识和专业知识。我们的提议将通过增强加拿大太阳能电池行业亟需的技术诀窍，并通过引导太阳能电池创新实现工业可伸缩性和商业化，使加拿大受益。

Plastic solar cells are a novel class of low-cost photovoltaic modules in which the active layer consists of thin films of plastic, polymeric materials. These plastic thin films, able to cost-effectively convert light into electricity, can be easily and cheaply assembled using a number of industrially scalable techniques, including ink-jet printing, spin-coating and spraying. In the last few years, a number of organic materials capable of light conversion efficiencies up to 10% has been discovered and the best architecture of the active layer for these devices was optimized. Conversely, the optimal procedure for efficiently contacting plastic solar cells, with maximum efficiency and minimum degradation of the devices over time, is still a matter of debate. Our research and development project is aimed at solving the fundamentally and technologically challenging problem of optimizing the deposition of two-layer metallic electrodes on the top of polymeric active layers of organic photovoltaics and to provide the industrial partner, Plasmionique Inc., with the unique knowledge and expertise necessary to design the next-generation deposition systems for assembling metallic contacts on the top of plastic solar cells. Our proposal will benefit Canada by enhancing the much needed know-how of the Canadian solar cell industry and by leading solar cell innovation to industrial scalability and commercialization.