Large-area CVD graphene as transparent electrode for efficient organic solar cells

Indium tin oxide (ITO) and related oxide based materials have been widely used as transparent electrode in optoelectronic devices and organic solar cells. Here, we demonstrate application of chemical vapor deposited (CVD) graphene films as transparent electrode for organic solar cells. Large area graphene films are deposited by control pyrolysis of botanical derivative camphor (C₁₀H₁₆O) and transparent electrode were fabricated by direct synthesis or transfer process. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microcopy studies are used to characterize the synthesized graphene based materials. Direct synthesized and transferred graphene films on glass or plastic substrates show very good optical transparency, electrical conductivity and mechanical stability. P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cells are fabricated successfully on graphene based transparent electrode and compared with ITO based device. The dark light characteristic shows very good rectification with minimum leakage current. Under illumination of light the device shows very good open circuit voltage, short circuit current density and conversion efficiency.