title: Flow Synthesis of Silver Nanowires for Semitransparent Solar Cell Electrodes: A Life Cycle Perspective.
abstract: Silver nanowires (AgNWs) were prepared on a 5 g scale using either the well-known batch synthesis following the polyol method or a new flow synthesis method. The AgNWs were employed as semitransparent electrode materials in organic photovoltaics and compared to traditional printed silver electrodes based on micron sized silver flakes using life cycle analysis and environmental impact analysis methods. The life cycle analysis of AgNWs confirms that they provide an avenue to low-impact semitransparent electrodes. We find that the benefit of AgNWs in terms of embodied energy is less pronounced than generally assumed but that the toxicological and environmental benefits are significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Roar R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Søndergaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mikkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark. frkr@dtu.dk.
authors.forename: Frederik C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Krebs
mesh_terms: D004566:Electrodes; D004777:Environment; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D012993:Solar Energy
chemical_list: D012834:Silver
keywords: energy conversion; nanostructures; polymers; silver; synthesis design