Polymer Solar Cell: A New Device in Conversion of Solar Energy to Electricity

Among the renewable resources of energy, sun is known as a main resource. Solar cells are devices that convert solar energy to electricity by photovoltaic effect. Among different types of solar cells including organic and inorganic cells, polymer solar cells (PSCs) caused to easy fabrication process, flexibility, light weight and low cost fabrication are interested. PSCs are constructed of an active layer that is sandwiched between two anode and cathode electrodes. Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) usually applied as anode in PSCs. Today scientists are surveyed on replacement of ITO with metallic nanostructures, due to loss of Indium source, high cost and complicated process for production of ITO. ITO-Free PSCs are devices that have not ITO in structure. Silver nanowires are promising candidate for ITO replacement based on favourable electrode and optical properties. In this review article, different types of energy sources, solar energy, solar cells, PSC structure and PSC performance mechanism, ITO replacement materials, ITO Free devices and Ag-NWs as good candidates for anode are considered. Also, a comparison between the power conversion efficiency of ITO based PSC and ITO-Free PSC is reported.