High-performance semi-transparent organic solar cells for window applications using MoO₃/Ag/MoO₃ transparent anodes

The optimization of semi-transparent organic solar cells involves balancing average visible transparency (AVT) and power conversion efficiency (PCE). We propose enhancing ST-OSC performance by replacing the conventional opaque Ag electrode with a MoO₃/Ag/MoO₃ as a dielectric/metal/dielectric (DMD) layer structure, explored theoretically and experimentally. A prototype ST-OSC configuration, comprising ITO/ZnO/P3HT: PCBM/MoO3/Ag/MoO3, was fabricated with varying thicknesses of the MoO₃/Ag/MoO₃ layer, determined through theoretical calculations utilizing MATLAB software. This study investigates the impact of metal layer thickness on two active layer densities (10 and 18 mg/mL) and evaluates AVT, color rendering index, Correlated Color Temperature, and CIELAB color coordinates (a*, b*). Both theoretical calculations and experimental results confirm that the optimized configuration of the DMD structure with specific layer thicknesses for each component (MoO₃ = 10nm/Ag = 6nm/MoO₃ = 30 nm) achieves an AVT of over 59.60 %. This high level of transparency makes this configuration suitable for applications requiring both high transparency and efficient light transmission. The optimized device delivered high-quality light transmission, approaching white perception to the human eye. This combined approach validates empirical results and provides a deeper understanding of transparent OSC mechanisms.