Characterization of tandem organic solar cells comprising subcells of identical absorber material

Recently organic tandem solar cells with record efficiency had been shown comprising identical absorber materials in both subcells. Such structures pose new challenges for characterization. The standard test methods for measuring spectral response of tandem solar cells can not be applied. The standard procedures demand for different bias illumination during measuring spectral response allowing to select the subcell being current limiting. With subcells comprising identical absorber materials, thus having identical absorption spectra, such a selection is not trivial. In this paper, we show that with the help of detailed optical simulations of such tandem organic solar cells, their characterization is possible, and we apply the proposed method to a sample structure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Accurate Measurement and Characterization of Organic Solar Cells

Methods to accurately measure the current–voltage characteristics of organic solar cells under standard reporting conditions are presented. Four types of organic test cells and two types of silicon reference cells (unfiltered and with a KG5 color filter) are selected to calculate spectral‐mismatch factors for different test‐cell/reference‐cell combinations. The test devices include both polymer/fullerene‐based bulk‐heterojunction solar cells and small‐molecule‐based heterojunction solar cells. The spectral responsivities of test cells are measured as per American Society for Testing and Materials Standard E1021, and their dependence on light‐bias intensity is reported. The current–voltage curves are measured under 100 mW cm^–2 standard AM 1.5 G (AM: air mass) spectrum (International Electrotechnical Commission 69094‐1) generated from a source set with a reference cell and corrected for spectral error.     

Efficient Organic Tandem Solar Cells based on Small Molecules

In this paper, two vacuum processed single heterojunction organic solar cells with complementary absorption are described and the construction and optimization of tandem solar cells based on the combination of these heterojunctions demonstrated. The red‐absorbing heterojunction consists of C₆₀ and a fluorinated zinc phthalocyanine derivative (F4‐ZnPc) that leads to a 0.1–0.15 V higher open circuit voltage V_oc than the commonly used ZnPc. The second heterojunction incorporates C₆₀ and a dicyanovinyl‐capped sexithiophene derivative (DCV6T) that mainly absorbs in the green. The combination of both heterojunctions into one tandem solar cell leads to an absorption over the whole visible range of the sun spectrum. Thickness variations of the transparent p‐doped optical spacer between both subcells in the tandem solar cell is shown to lead to a significant change in short circuit current density j_sc due to optical interference effects, whereas V_oc and fill factor are hardly affected. The maximum efficiency η of about 5.6% is found for a spacer thickness of 150‐165 nm. Based on the optimized 165nm thick spacer, effects of intensity and angle of illumination, and temperature on a tandem device are investigated. Variations in illumination intensity lead to a linear change in j_sc over three orders of magnitude and a nearly constant η in the range of 30 to 310 mW cm^?2. Despite the stacked heterojunctions, the performance of the tandem device is robust against different illumination angles: j_sc and η closely follow a cosine behavior between 0° and 70°. Investigations of the temperature behavior of the tandem device show an increase in η of 0.016 percentage points per Kelvin between ?20 °C and 25 °C followed by a plateau up to 50 °C. Finally, further optimization of the tandem stack results in a certified η of (6.07 ± 0.24)% on (1.9893 ± 0.0060)cm² (Fraunhofer ISE), i.e., areas large enough to be of relevance for modules.     

On the Role of Bathocuproine in Organic Photovoltaic Cells

The effect of bathocuproine (BCP) on the optical and electrical properties of organic planar heterojunction photovoltaic cells is quantified by current–voltage characterization under 1 sun AM 1.5D simulated solar illumination and spectral response at short‐circuit conditions. By inserting a 10 nm BCP layer in an indium tin oxide (ITO)/subphthalocyanine (SubPc)/buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀)/BCP/Al thin‐film structure, an increase in power‐conversion efficiency from 0.05 to 3.0% is observed, mostly reflected in the enhanced open‐circuit voltage up to 920 mV. Furthermore, the incorporation of a 10‐nm BCP layer in an ITO/C₆₀/BCP/Al structure leads to an increase in built‐in potential from 250 to 850 mV, as demonstrated by electroabsorption. It is argued that BCP passivates C₆₀ such that a 10‐nm layer provides a sufficient buffer layer that prohibits Al contacting the C₆₀ where it would otherwise create donor states.     

Reverse biased annealing: Effective post treatment tool for polymer/nano-composite solar cells

Hybrid organic solar cells using nano-porous TiO₂ infiltrated with MEH-PPV were made and characterized under standard AM 1.5 G solar illumination. Reverse biased annealing was performed on the fabricated cells as a post treatment and origin of the counter-diode was investigated by illuminating the cells through a UV-blocking filter. Treated devices deliver increased open circuit voltage and short circuit current density values, leading to significant increase in cell performances.     

Solution‐Processed Organic Tandem Solar Cells

A solution‐processed polymer tandem cell fabricated by stacking two single cells in series is demonstrated. The two bulk‐heterojunction subcells have complementary absorption maxima at λ_max ～ 850 nm and λ_max ～ 550 nm, respectively. A composite middle electrode is applied that serves both as a charge‐recombination center and as a protecting layer for the first cell during spin‐coating of the second cell. The subcells are electronically coupled in series, which leads to a high open‐circuit voltage of 1.4 V, equal to the sum of each subcell. The layer thickness of the first (bottom) cell is tuned to maximize the optical absorption of the second (top) cell. The performance of the tandem cell is presently limited by the relatively low photocurrent generation in the small‐bandgap polymer of the top cell. The combination of our tandem architecture with more efficient small‐bandgap materials will enable the realization of highly efficient organic solar cells in the near future.     

Cover Picture: Solution‐Processed Organic Tandem Solar Cells (Adv. Funct. Mater. 14/2006)

The fabrication of a solution‐processed polymer tandem cell by stacking two single cells in series is reported by de Boer and co‐workers on p. 1897. The bottom and top cell are complementary with respect to their absorption spectra and the layer thickness of the bottom cell was optimized in order to create an optical cavity that efficiently transmits the required wavelength for the top cell. The combination of this tandem architecture with more efficient small‐bandgap materials will enable the realization of highly efficient organic solar cells. A solution‐processed polymer tandem cell fabricated by stacking two single cells in series is demonstrated. The two bulk‐heterojunction subcells have complementary absorption maxima at λ_max ～ 850 nm and λ_max ～ 550 nm, respectively. A composite middle electrode is applied that serves both as a charge‐recombination center and as a protecting layer for the first cell during spin‐coating of the second cell. The subcells are electronically coupled in series, which leads to a high open‐circuit voltage of 1.4 V, equal to the sum of each subcell. The layer thickness of the first (bottom) cell is tuned to maximize the optical absorption of the second (top) cell. The performance of the tandem cell is presently limited by the relatively low photocurrent generation in the small‐bandgap polymer of the top cell. The combination of our tandem architecture with more efficient small‐bandgap materials will enable the realization of highly efficient organic solar cells in the near future.     

Self‐consistent electrical parameter extraction from bias dependent spectral response measurements of III‐V multi‐junction solar cells

Spectral response of multi‐junction solar cell is complicated because of the interplay between external measurement conditions such as bias light intensity, monochromatic light intensity, bias voltage, and intrinsic electrical properties of series interconnected subcells. In this paper, we report an experimental study on the bias voltage‐dependent spectral response (SR) for multi‐junction solar cell. A self‐consistent iteration loop was developed from a nonlinear least square Powell hybrid algorithm that was used for curve fitting the experimental SR versus bias voltage data of each subcell. We demonstrated for the first time that this approach enabled us to derive the electrical parameters such as dark saturation currents (J₀), shunt resistance (R_sh), series resistance (R_s), and spectra response (J_photo) for each subcell of a Ga_0.99In_0.01As/Ge dual junction solar cell with stable convergence. The accuracies of the fitting results were confirmed by the agreement between the J–V curves calculated on the basis of these parameters and the experimental J–V curve of multi‐junction solar cell measured under AM1.5 and 1 sun condition. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectral mismatch correction and spectrometric characterization of monolithic III–V multi‐junction solar cells

III–V monolithic multi‐junction (MJ) solar cells reach efficiencies exceeding 30% (AM 1.5 global) and have applications in space and in terrestrial concentrator systems. The subcells of monolithic MJ cells are not accessible separately, which presents a challenge to measurement systems and procedures. A mathematical approach is presented which enables a fast way of spectral mismatch correction for MJ cells, thereby significantly reducing the time required for calibration. Moreover, a systematic investigation of the I–V parameters of a MJ solar cell with variation of the incident spectrum is possible, herein called ‘spectrometric characterization’. This analysis method visualizes the effects of current limitation and shifting of the operating voltage, and yields precise information about the current‐matching of the subcells. MJ cells can hereby be compared without the need to match the current of the structures to a reference spectrum in advance. Further applications of the spectrometric characterization are suggested, such as for the determination of the radiation response of the subcells of MJ space solar cells or for the prediction of the annual power output of terrestrial MJ concentrator cells. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solution processable,precursor based zinc oxide buffer layers for 4.5% efficient organic tandem solar cells

In this work we present regular and inverted organic tandem solar cells from poly[N-9′-hepta-decanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole): [6,6]-phenyl C₇₀-butyric acid methyl ester (PCDTBT:PC₇₁BM) with power conversion efficiencies of up to 4.5%. The recombination zone comprises an electron conducting, precursor based zinc oxide buffer layer that was applied from solution under ambient conditions and at moderate processing temperatures. Optimized active layer thicknesses in both subcells were derived from optical Transfer Matrix simulations. The short circuit current density of the tandem cell exceeds half the short circuit current density of the single absorber cells indicating a real gain in quantum yield when utilizing the tandem architecture.     

Two-Terminal Tandem Solar Cells DSC/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>-Si: Optimization of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-based Photoelectrode Parameters

New types of two-terminal tandem solar cells DSC/c-Si in which mesoscopic dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) was connected in parallel with a crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cell, were developed and investigated. We have measured the optical and photovoltaic parameters for both the individual and the fabricated tandem DSC/c-Si solar cells. It was shown that the highest efficiency of 14.7% for the tandem DSC/c-Si solar cell under standard AM1.5G (100 mW/cm²) illumination conditions was achieved for DSC based on 3.5 μm thick titanium dioxide photoelectrode.     

The effect of bias light on the spectral responsivity of organic solar cells

The spectral responsivity, S, and the related spectrally resolved photon-to-electron external quantum efficiency, EQE, are standard device characteristics of organic solar cells and can be used to determine the short-circuit current density and power conversion efficiency under standardized test conditions by integrating over the spectral irradiance of the solar emission. However, in organic solar cells S and EQE can change profoundly with light intensity as a result of processes that vary non-linearly with light intensity such as bimolecular recombination of electrons and holes or space charge effects. To determine the S under representative solar light conditions, it is common to use modulated monochromatic light and lock-in detection in combination with simulated solar bias light to bring the cell close to 1 sun equivalent operating conditions. In this paper we demonstrate analytically and experimentally that the S obtained with this method is in fact the differential spectral responsivity, DS, and that the real S and the experimental DS can differ significantly when the solar cells exhibit loss processes that vary non-linearly with light intensity. In these cases the experimental DS will be less than the real S. We propose a new, simple, experimental method to more accurately determine S and EQE under bias illumination. With the new method it is possible to accurately estimate the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells.     

Perfluorinated Subphthalocyanine as a New Acceptor Material in a Small‐Molecule Bilayer Organic Solar Cell

The complex refractive index of fluorinated subphthalocyanines (SubPcs) deposited by vacuum sublimation is determined by spectral ellipsometry. Their performance as acceptor material is characterized in a range of donor/acceptor heterojunctions in organic photovoltaic cells (OPVCs) by current–voltage measurements under 1 sun AM 1.5D simulated solar illumination and spectral response. Both electron and hole transfer between donor and acceptor materials is demonstrated. Power conversion efficiencies of 0.96% are found with an open‐circuit bias of 940 mV. Hence, it is shown that fluorinated SubPcs can be considered as an acceptor material in OPVCs with an absorption in the visible comparable to that of well‐known metallophthalocyanines.     

Open‐circuit voltage recovery in type II GaSb/GaAs quantum ring solar cells under high concentration

We report on the open‐circuit voltage recovery in GaSb quantum ring (QR) solar cells under high solar concentration up to 2500 suns. The detailed behaviour of type II GaSb/GaAs QR solar cells under solar concentration, using different temperatures and light illumination conditions, is analysed through optical and electrical measurements. Although enhancement of the short‐circuit current was observed because of sub‐bandgap photon absorption in the QR, the thermionic emission rate of holes was found to be insufficient for ideal operation. The direct excitation of electron–hole pairs into QRs has revealed that the accumulation of holes is one of the causes of the open‐circuit voltage (V_OC) degradation. However, using concentrated light up to 2500 suns, the GaSb QR cell showed much quicker V_OC recovery rate than a GaAs control cell. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adhesive bonding for mechanically stacked solar cells

Mechanically stacked solar cells formed using adhesive bonding are proposed as a route to high‐efficiency devices as they enable the combination of a wide range of materials and bandgaps. The concept involves adhesive bonding of subcells using polymeric materials widely used in semiconductor processing and outlines how the absolute efficiency can be maximised by optimisation of the adhesive layer thickness and optical matching of the adhesive layer with both the subcells and their anti‐reflection coatings. A dual‐junction, GaAs‐InGaAs, mechanically stacked solar cell is demonstrated using a benzocyclobutene adhesive layer with a measured PV conversion efficiency of 25.2% under 1‐sun AM1.5G conditions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical modeling of the interface recombination effect on the performance of Ⅲ-Ⅴtandem solar cells

A typical GaInP/GaInAs/Ge tandem solar cell structure operating under AM0 illumination is proposed, and the current-voltage curves are calculated for different recombination velocities at both front and back-surfaces of the three subcells by using a theoretical model including optical and electrical modules. It is found that the surface recombination at the top GaInP cell is the main limitation for obtaining high efficiency tandem solar cells.     

Graphene Intermediate Layer in Tandem Organic Photovoltaic Cells

One strategy to harvest wide spectral solar energy is to stack different bandgap materials together in a tandem solar cell. Here, it is demonstrated that CVD grown graphene film can be employed as intermediate layer (IML) in tandem solar cells. Using MoO₃‐modified graphene IML, a high open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 1 V and a high short‐circuit current density (J_sc) of 11.6 mA cm^‐2 could be obtained in series and parallel connection, respectively, in contrast to a V_oc of 0.58 V and J_sc of 7.6 mA cm^‐2 in single PV cell. The value of V_oc (J_sc) in the tandem cell is very close to the sum of V_oc (J_sc) attained from two single subcells in series (parallel), which confirms good ohmic contact at the photoactive layer/MoO₃‐modified graphene interface. Work function engineering of the graphene IML with metal oxide is essential to ensure good charge collection from both subcells.     

Perovskite‐Based Tandem Solar Cells: Get the Most Out of the Sun

Tandem solar cells (TSCs) comprising stacked narrow‐bandgap and wide‐bandgap subcells are regarded as the most promising approach to break the Shockley–Queisser limit of single‐junction solar cells. As the game‐changer in the photovoltaic community, organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites became the front‐runner candidate for mating with other efficient photovoltaic technologies in the tandem configuration for higher power conversion efficiency, by virtue of their tunable and complementary bandgaps, excellent photoelectric properties, and solution processability. In this review, a perspective that critically dilates the progress of perovskite material selection and device design for perovskite‐based TSCs, including perovskite/silicon, perovskite/copper indium gallium selenide, perovskite/perovskite, perovskite/CdTe, and perovskite/GaAs are presented. Besides, all‐inorganic perovskite CsPbI₃ with high thermal stability is proposed as the top subcell in TSCs due to its suitable bandgap of ≈1.73 eV and rapidly increasing efficiency. To minimize the optical and electrical losses for high‐efficiency TSCs, the optimization of transparent electrodes, recombination layers, and the current‐matching principles are highlighted. Through big data analysis, wide‐bandgap perovskite solar cells with high open‐circuit voltage (V_oc) are in dire need in further study. In the end, opportunities and challenges to realize the commercialization of TSCs, including long‐term stability, area upscaling, and mitigation of toxicity, are also envisioned.     

Hybrid Solar Cells Using HgTe Nanocrystals and Nanoporous TiO2 Electrodes

HgTe nanocrystals are demonstrated to increase the photon‐harvesting efficiency of hybrid solar cells over a broad spectral region between 350 and 1500 nm. Devices combining two solar cell concepts, a solid‐state nanocrystal‐sensitized solar cell and a nanocrystal/polymer‐blend solar cell, are described. These devices give incident photon to current efficiencies up to 10 % at around 550 nm monochromatic irradiation and short‐circuit current densities of 2 mA cm^–2 under simulated AM1.5 (100 mW cm^–2) illumination (AM: air mass).     

Determination of subcell I–V characteristics of multijunction solar cells using optical coupling

A method for the determination of the subcell I–V characteristics of multijunction solar cells in the presence of optical coupling is presented and applied to a Ga_0.50In_0.50P/Ga_0.99In_0.01As/Ge triple‐junction solar cell. Each of the subcells is described by a two‐diode model and can be illuminated by a narrowband light source externally. Optical coupling is then used explicitly to generate current in one subcell, which is not illuminated externally. This approach yields the magnitude of optical coupling and a relationship between the two diode parameters of each subcell. The remaining cell parameters are determined with the help of pulsed illumination. In this fashion, the open circuit voltage of individual subcells is accessible, despite the fact that not all junctions are illuminated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.