Effect of Ion Beam Assisted Deposition technology on the cathode of solar cells

Abstract

We realized organic solar cells on ITO anode based on small – molecular materials (CUPC:C60) to be easy to fabricate, cost price, production on large surfaces, efficiency, flexibility and large market of solar panels, but the organic materials are limited by their lifetime. Then, on the ITO we deposited the organic materials by using the vacuum co-evaporation deposition. Cathode is a silver layer to protect the organic layer from the humidity. The penetrations of humidity from the cathode to the organic layer give to organic electronic components a short lifetime, and limit the fabrication of organic solar panels. In order to optimize the lifetime of organic solar cells, we use in this study the IBAD’s technology to deposit the cathode instead of vacuum co-evaporation deposition. The goal of this technology is to reduce the permeation of H2O and O2 from the cathode to the organic layer, by using the argon ions to assist the aluminium deposition of cathode. We realized two series of cells under vacuum and do not exposed to the air. The first, with cathode deposit by the vacuum co-evaporate deposition, but the second we use the IBAD technology to deposit the cathode (60nm unassisted and 40nm deposited with ionic assistance), after we compare their lifetime in the ambient air and under continuous illumination.