Chemical reaction of Al-Sm sputtered amorphous electrode for stable encapsulation-free organic electronics

Abstract

An Al-based amorphous metal alloy (i.e., metallic glass) is fabricated in the form of a thin film electrode for an organic solar cell. The chemical stability of the amorphous alloy thin film is analysed via electrochemical analyses, which reveals that the random atomic arrangement within the electrode suppresses the oxidation reaction upon contact with harsh conditions. Incorporation of an amorphous metal thin film as a top electrode for organic solar cell devices results in considerable enhancement in device stability, as the metallic surface with the amorphous phase hinders the ambient moisture and oxygen from permeating into the underlying organic layers. The electrical parameters of the amorphous electrodes are analysed before and after aging and compared with those of a conventional crystalline metal electrode, which presents the advantage of amorphous electrodes in maintaining high charge transport properties for an extended time. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd