Work Function-Tunable Amorphous Carbon–Silver Nanocomposite Hybrid Electrode for Optoelectronic Applications

Parameters such as electrode work function (WF), optical reflectance, electrode morphology, and interface roughness play a crucial role in optoelectronic device design; therefore, fine-tuning these parameters is essential for efficient end-user applications. In this study, amorphous carbon–silver (C–Ag) nanocomposite hybrid electrodes are proposed and fully characterized for solar photovoltaic applications. Basically, the WF, sheet resistance, and optical reflectance of the C–Ag nanocomposite electrode are fine-tuned by varying the composition in a wide range. Experimental results suggest that irrespective of the variation in the graphite–silver composition, smaller and consistent grain size distributions offer uniform WF across the electrode surface. In addition, the strong C–Ag interaction in the nanocomposite enhances the nanomechanical properties of the hybrid electrode, such as hardness, reduced modulus, and elastic recovery parameters. Furthermore, the C–Ag nanocomposite hybrid electrode exhibits relatively lower surface roughness than the commercially available carbon paste electrode. These results suggest that the C–Ag nanocomposite electrode can be used for highly efficient photovoltaics in place of the conventional carbon-based electrodes.