Transfer Printed Silver Nanowire Transparent Conductors for PbS–ZnO Heterojunction Quantum Dot Solar Cells

Transfer-printed silver nanowire transparent conducting electrodes are demonstrated in lead sulfide–zinc oxide quantum dot solar cells. Advantages of using this transparent conductor technology are increased junction surface energy, solution processing, and the potential cost reduction of low temperature processing. Joule heating, device aging, and film thickness effects are investigated to understand shunt pathways created by nanowires protruding perpendicular to the film. A <i>V</i>_oc of 0.39 ± 0.07 V, <i>J</i>_sc of 16.2 ± 0.2 mA/cm², and power conversion efficiencies of 2.8 ± 0.4% are presented