# US 7,612,367 B2 · Photovoltaic component and production method therefor

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- Number: US 7,612,367 B2
- Document ID: US7612367B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/536,568
- Filed: 2003-11-21
- Published: 2006-06-29
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2002-11-29
- Assignees: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Christoph Brabec; Christoph Waldauf
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612367B2

## CPC

- H10K 30/81: Electrodes
- B82Y 10/00: Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
- H10K 30/30: comprising bulk heterojunctions, e.g. interpenetrating networks of donor and acceptor material domains
- H10K 71/611: {using printing deposition, e.g. ink jet printing}
- H10K 30/50: Photovoltaic [PV] devices
- H10K 71/60: Forming conductive regions or layers, e.g. electrodes
- H10K 85/113: {Heteroaromatic compounds comprising sulfur or selene, e.g. polythiophene}
- H10K 85/1135: {Polyethylene dioxythiophene [PEDOT]; Derivatives thereof}
- H10K 85/215: {comprising substituents, e.g. PCBM}
- Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

The invention relates to an organic component comprising an improved top electrode and to a production method therefor. The top electrode is made of an organic material that is applied by means of printing techniques.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cell, comprising:
a substrate,
first electrode,
a photovoltaically active layer comprising an organic material, and
a second electrode made of a predominantly organic material,
wherein:
the first electrode is between the substrate and the photovoltaically active layer and has a first work function,
the photovoltaically active layer is between the first and second electrodes,
the second electrode is opaque and has a second work function higher than the first work function, and
the cell is a photovoltaic cell.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cell as described in claim 1, wherein the second electrode is a positive electrode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cell of claim 1, further comprising leakage connectors configured to reduce ohmic losses during use of the cell.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The cell as described in claim 3, wherein the leakage connectors are made of silver conductive paste.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The cell of claim 3, wherein the leakage connectors consist of silver.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cell of claim 5, wherein the leakage connectors are printed on the second electrode.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The cell of claim 3, wherein the leakage connectors are devoid of adhesive.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The cell of claim 7, wherein the leakage connectors are printed on the second electrode.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The cell of claim 3, wherein the leakage connectors are printed on the second electrode.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The cell of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises PEDOT.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The cell of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is semitransparent.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The cell of claim 11, wherein the second electrode is a positive electrode.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The cell of claim 1, wherein the second electrode covers the entire area of the photovoltaically active layer.

### Claim 14

A method for producing a photovoltaic component, wherein applied to a substrate is a first electrode having a first work function, thereon a semiconductive, photovoltaically active functional layer comprising an organic material, a second electrode comprising a predominantly organic material is applied to the semiconductive, photoactive functional layer to provide the photovoltaic component, wherein
the second electrode is opaque and has a second work function higher than the first work function.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method as described in claim 14, wherein the second electrode is applied by a printing technique.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the photovoltaic component further comprises leakage connectors configured to reduce ohmic losses during use of the photovoltaic component.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the leakage connectors consist of silver.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the leakage connectors are printed on the second electrode.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the leakage connectors are devoid of adhesive.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the leakage connectors are printed on the second electrode.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the leakage connectors are printed on the second electrode.

### Claim 22 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the second electrode comprises PEDOT.

### Claim 23 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the first electrode is semitransparent.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the second electrode is a positive electrode.

### Claim 25 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the second electrode is a positive electrode.

### Claim 26

A component, comprising:
a substrate;
a first electrode that is semitransparent; a second electrode comprising a predominantly organic material, the organic material comprising PEDOT; and
a photovoltaically active layer between the first and second electrodes, the photovoltaically active layer comprising an organic material
wherein the first electrode is between the substrate and the photovoltaically active layer and has a first work function, the second electrode is opaque and has a second work function higher than the first work function, the component is a photovoltaic component.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The component of claim 26, further comprising leakage connectors configured to reduce ohmic losses during use of the component.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The component of claim 27, wherein the leakage connectors comprise silver conductive paste.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The component of claim 27, wherein the leakage connectors consist of silver.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The component of claim 29, wherein the leakage connectors are printed on the second electrode.

### Claim 31 (depends on 27)

The component of claim 27, wherein the leakage connectors are devoid of adhesive.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The component of claim 31, wherein the leakage connectors are printed on the second electrode.

### Claim 33 (depends on 27)

The component of claim 27, wherein the leakage connectors are printed on the second electrode.

### Claim 34

An article, comprising:
a substrate,
a first electrode,
a photovoltaically active layer comprising an organic material, and
a second electrode made of a predominantly organic material,
wherein:
the first electrode is between the substrate and the photovoltaically active layer and has a first work function,
the photovoltaically active layer is between the first and second electrodes,
the second electrode is opaque and covers the entire area of the photovoltaically active layer, the second electrode having a second work function higher than the first work function, and
the article is a photovoltaic cell.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The article of claim 34, wherein the second electrode is a positive electrode.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

article of claim 34, wherein the first electrode is semitransparent.