V2O5–Sn mesh electrode system for inverted polymer solar cells

The viability of V2O5–Sn bilayer mesh film on ITO as an electrode system for inverted polymer solar cell (IPSC) is investigated. The metallic ‘Sn’ is expected to act as a plasmonic layer, enhancing the electron collecting ability of V2O5. X-ray diffraction peaks are indexed to ITO, Sn and V2O5. The direct bandgap of V2O5–Sn bilayer mesh film is estimated to be 2.80 eV. In the deposited V2O5–Sn mesh pattern, isolated globule morphology of ‘Sn’ is observed. The V2O5–Sn electrode shows improved values of carrier concentration (1.789 × 1019 cm−3) conductivity (1.218 × 102 S cm−1) and mobility (42.51 cm2V−1 s−1) compared to that of standard ITO electrode. Power conversion efficiency of 0.63% for the IPSC fabricated using V2O5–Sn electrode is three times higher than the efficiency using Ta:V2O5 electrode. This patterned electrode system has scope for further improvement by varying the mesh size and fine tuning Sn layer thickness below its skin depth.