Metal nanowire solar cells avoid use of ITO

Metal nanowire transparent electrodes have already shown
comparable or even better performance compared to
transparent conducting oxide films currently used in thin-film
photovoltaics. We have now developed a
fabrication method that combines the
advantages of controlled nanopatterns
enabled by lithographic processing with
the higher conductivity and lower cost
reached by solution synthesis. We have
also implemented metal nanowire
networks for the first time as both the
transparent electrode and chargeseparating
interface (i.e. without a p-n
junction) in both Cu2O and Si solar cells.
Currently, we are investigating
possibilities to make monocrystalline
metal nanowire transparent electrodes
that would double the conductivity of
state-of-the-art electrodes. We are also
exploring new possibilities for tandem interdigitated back
contact (IBC) solar cells enabled by metal nanowire electrodes.