Inkjet Printing Technology for OPV Applications

Large-scale production of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) at low cost is, still, a future concept thought to promote the market share of solar energy. Working towards the roll-to-roll production of OPVs, different compatible deposition techniques are investigated. Inkjet printing is a promising candidate, as it allows the contact-free deposition of patterned functional materials with high flexibility. In this article, we further extend the application of inkjet printing for roll-to-roll production of OPVs. Inkjet-printed high-conducting PEDOT:PSS is compatible with indium tin oxide-free devices, by combination with an Ag grid to form the anode. A P3HT/PCBM layer is inkjet printed on top using non-chlorinated halogen-free solvents only, and large-area homogeneous layers with surface areas up to 3 cm by 3 cm were obtained. The device thus manufactured showed performance comparable to a reference device with spin-coated layers for which chlorobenzene was used as solvent for the photoactive layer. This is an essential step forward in the knowledge on materials and process conditions using inkjet printing for OPVs and working towards the full roll-to-roll production of OPVs without loss of performance. 2012 Society for Imaging Science and Technology.