Metal oxides for interface engineering in polymer solar cells

Significant progress in power conversion efficiencies and stabilities of polymer solar cells has been achieved using semiconducting metal oxides as charge extraction interlayers. Both n- and p-type transition metal oxides with good transparency in the visible as well as infrared region make good Ohmic contacts to both donors and acceptors in polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells. Their compatibility with roll-to-roll processing makes them very attractive for low cost manufacturing of polymer solar cells. In this review, we will present the recent results on synthesis and characterization of these metal oxides along with the device performance of the solar cells using these metal oxides as interlayers. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012.