Radiation induced damage and recovery in poly(3-hexyl thiophene) based polymer solar cells

Polymer solar cells have been characterized during and after x-ray irradiation. The open circuit voltage, dark current and power conversion efficiency show degradation consistent with the generation of defect states in the polymer semiconductor. The polymer solar cell device remained functional with exposure to a considerable dose (500?krad?(SiO(2))) and showed clear signs of recovery upon removal of the irradiation source (degraded from 4.1% to 2.2% and recovered to 2.9%). Mobility-relaxation time variation, derived from J-V measurement, clearly demonstrates that radiation induced defect generation mechanisms in the organic semiconductor are active and need to be further studied. Optical transmission results ruled out the possibility of reduced light absorption and/or polymer crystallinity. The results suggest that organic solar cells are sufficiently radiation tolerant to be useful for space applications.     

Pentacene nanostructural interlayer for the efficiency improvement of polymer solar cells

In poly(3-hexylthiophene) mixed with phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester heterojunction polymer solar cells, organic small molecular pentacene was introduced as the interfacial layer between PEDOT:PSS coated ITO substrates and polymer layer. It is found that the short circuit current density and power conversion efficiency were distinctly improved due to the introduction of the nanostructural pentacene interlayer. The nearly 100% power conversion efficiency improvement was obtained on the cells with a 4 nm pentacene interlayer, which benefits from the increased short circuit current from 2.34 mA/cm² to 5.76 mA/cm². The morphology of different thicknesses of pentacene thin films was observed by atomic force microscopy. The effect of pentacene interlayer's thickness on the distribution of light in the active layer was simulated by using a transfer matrix mode.     

Infrared Solution‐Processed Quantum Dot Solar Cells Reaching External Quantum Efficiency of 80% at 1.35 µm and Jsc in Excess of 34 mA cm−2

Developing low‐cost photovoltaic absorbers that can harvest the short‐wave infrared (SWIR) part of the solar spectrum, which remains unharnessed by current Si‐based and perovskite photovoltaic technologies, is a prerequisite for making high‐efficiency, low‐cost tandem solar cells. Here, infrared PbS colloidal quantum dot (CQD) solar cells employing a hybrid inorganic–organic ligand exchange process that results in an external quantum efficiency of 80% at 1.35 µm are reported, leading to a short‐circuit current density of 34 mA cm^?2 and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 7.9%, which is a current record for SWIR CQD solar cells. When this cell is placed at the back of an MAPbI₃ perovskite film, it delivers an extra 3.3% PCE by harnessing light beyond 750 nm.     

Efficiency improvement of organic solar cells by tuning hole transport layer with germanium oxide

Improving optical property is critical for optimizing the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. In the present research, we show that modification of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) layer with GeO2 leads to 15% improvement of power conversion efficiency in a polymer solar cells through enhancement of short circuit currents. Modified PEDOT:PSS layer with optimized concentration of GeO2 assists active layer absorbing much light by playing a role of optical spacer. Using AFM and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) data, we also present the evidence that an addition of GeO2 does not affect crystallinity of active layer.     

离子液体在有机光电转换器件中的应用研究进展

近年来,离子液体因具有不易挥发、性质稳定、透光性好、导电率高、可设计性,以及易于在界面处形成双电层等物理化学性质,而展现出广阔的应用潜力和前景,逐渐成为国际科学研究的前沿和热点之一。其中,将离子液体应用于染料敏化太阳能电池(Dye-sensitized solar cells,DSSCs)、钙钛矿太阳能电池和有机光电探测器等有机光电转换器件的研究备受关注。 在有机光电转换器件中,离子液体在染料敏化太阳能电池方面的应用最为广泛且完善。高效DSSCs主要是基于有机溶剂的液态电解质结,但有机溶剂在带来较高光电转换效率的同时,其本身存在的易挥发汽化、光热稳定性差等缺点,导致DSSCs的器件寿命与长期稳定性受到影响,离子液体的引入能有效解决以上问题。此外,离子液体还以电子传输层以及界面修饰层的形式引入,具有高电荷迁移率、低功函数以及高稳定性等优点,能在一定程度上改善器件的短路电流、填充因子和光电转换效率等。因此,离子液体成为在DSSCs的实际应用中兼具性价比高、封装难度低、性能好、稳定性高四大优点的辅助材料。在钙钛矿太阳能电池方面,离子液体的低功函数和高电子迁移率以及一些特殊性质如钝化反应、黏度效应等,都能够实现对电子萃取率、电荷转移电阻、钙钛矿结晶情况等方面的控制以满足实际设计要求,进而有助于钙钛矿太阳能电池的光电转换效率、填充因子等性能指标不同程度的提升。在有机光电探测器方面,引入的离子液体能促使在与之接触的界面处形成双电层,双电层的形成及离子液体的高导电率使得入射光不必照射有机光电探测器上下电极的重叠区域仍旧可以产生较大的光电流输出,从而可以有效摆脱有机光电探测器对电极材料透光性要求的局限性。同时双电层的形成还将促进有机光电探测器工作层中的电荷分离,进一步提高有机光电探测器的响应率。 本文主要从染料敏化太阳能电池、钙钛矿太阳能电池、有机光电探测器三个方面,综述了离子液体在有机光电转换器件中的国内外应用研究进展,就离子液体对提升有机光电转换效率及其实现器件新功能的工作机理进行了详细分析,并对其未来的应用研究方向进行了展望,为今后进一步设计出更适合有机光电转换领域应用的离子液体提供参考。     

Device Physics of Polymer:Fullerene Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

Plastic solar cells bear the potential for large‐scale power generation based on materials that provide the possibility of flexible, lightweight, inexpensive, efficient solar cells. Since the discovery of the photoinduced electron transfer from a conjugated polymer to fullerene molecules, followed by the introduction of the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) concept, this material combination has been extensively studied in organic solar cells, leading to several breakthroughs in efficiency, with a power conversion efficiency approaching 5 %. This article reviews the processes and limitations that govern device operation of polymer:fullerene BHJ solar cells, with respect to the charge‐carrier transport and photogeneration mechanism. The transport of electrons/holes in the blend is a crucial parameter and must be controlled (e.g., by controlling the nanoscale morphology) and enhanced in order to allow fabrication of thicker films to maximize the absorption, without significant recombination losses. Concomitantly, a balanced transport of electrons and holes in the blend is needed to suppress the build‐up of the space–charge that will significantly reduce the power conversion efficiency. Dissociation of electron–hole pairs at the donor/acceptor interface is an important process that limits the charge generation efficiency under normal operation condition. Based on these findings, there is a compromise between charge generation (light absorption) and open‐circuit voltage (V_OC) when attempting to reduce the bandgap of the polymer (or fullerene). Therefore, an increase in V_OC of polymer:fullerene cells, for example by raising the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of the fullerene, will benefit cell performance as both fill factor and short‐circuit current increase simultaneously.     

Photovoltaic properties of bulk heterojunction devices based on CuI-PVA as electron donor and PCBM and modified PCBM as electron acceptor

In this paper, we have investigated the bulk heterojunction organic solar cells based on CuI ?? polyvinyl alcohol (CuI-PVA) nanocomposite as electron donor and [6,6] ?? phenyl C₆₀ ?? butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) or modified PCBM i.e. F as electron acceptor. The power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 0.46 % and 0.68 % were achieved for the photovoltaic devices based on as cast CuI-PVA:PCBM and CuI-PVA:F blend films, respectively. The higher PCEs of the organic solar cells based on F as electron acceptor resulted from the increase in both short circuit current (J _sc ) and open circuit voltage (V _oc ), due to the increased absorption of F in visible region and its higher LUMO level. After thermal annealing, the PCEs of the organic solar cells were further increased to 0.54 % and 0.80 % for CuI-PVA:PCBM and CuI-PVA:F blends, respectively. The increase in the PCEs was mainly due to the increase in J _sc , which has been attributed to the improvement in hole mobility and broadening of the absorption band in the longer wavelength region. The improved hole mobility resulted in more balanced charge transport in the devices based on the thermally annealed blends.     

Theoretical Efficiency of Nanostructured Graphene‐Based Photovoltaics

Graphene‐based organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have the potential for single‐cell efficiencies exceeding 12% (and 24% in a stacked structure). A generalized equivalent circuit for OPVs is proposed and the validation of the proposed models is verified by simulation. The simulated short‐circuit photocurrent density (computed using the simulated incident photon flux density and quantum yield), simulated current–voltage curve, and simulated 3D surface and 2D contour plots of solar‐power‐conversion efficiency versus carrier mobility and photoactive layer thickness are in good agreement with experimental observations. The results suggest that graphene renders a credible material for the construction of next‐generation flexible solar‐energy‐conversion devices that are low‐cost, high‐efficiency, thermally stable, environmentally friendly, and lightweight.     

Single-graded CIGS with narrow bandgap for tandem solar cells

Multi-junction solar cells show the highest photovoltaic energy conversion efficiencies, but the current technologies based on wafers and epitaxial growth of multiple layers are very costly. Therefore, there is a high interest in realizing multi-junction tandem devices based on cost-effective thin film technologies. While the efficiency of such devices has been limited so far because of the rather low efficiency of semitransparent wide bandgap top cells, the recent rise of wide bandgap perovskite solar cells has inspired the development of new thin film tandem solar devices. In order to realize monolithic, and therefore current-matched thin film tandem solar cells, a bottom cell with narrow bandgap (~1 eV) and high efficiency is necessary. In this work, we present Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ with a bandgap of 1.00 eV and a maximum power conversion efficiency of 16.1%. This is achieved by implementing a gallium grading towards the back contact into a CuInSe₂ base material. We show that this modification significantly improves the open circuit voltage but does not reduce the spectral response range of these devices. Therefore, efficient cells with narrow bandgap absorbers are obtained, yielding the high current density necessary for thin film multi-junction solar cells.     

Solution-processed organic solar cells from dye molecules: an investigation of diketopyrrolopyrrole:vinazene heterojunctions

Although one of the most attractive aspects of organic solar cells is their low cost and ease of fabrication, the active materials incorporated into the vast majority of reported bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells include a semiconducting polymer and a fullerene derivative, classes of materials which are both typically difficult and expensive to prepare. In this study, we demonstrate that effective BHJs can be fabricated from two easily synthesized dye molecules. Solar cells incorporating a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based molecule as a donor and a dicyanoimidazole (Vinazene) acceptor function as an active layer in BHJ solar cells, producing relatively high open circuit voltages and power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) up to 1.1%. Atomic force microscope images of the films show that active layers are rough and apparently have large donor and acceptor domains on the surface, whereas photoluminescence of the blends is incompletely quenched, suggesting that higher PCEs might be obtained if the morphology could be improved to yield smaller domain sizes and a larger interfacial area between donor and acceptor phases.     

Effect of a fullerene derivative on the performance of TiO2-nanotube-based dye-sensitized solar cells

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays were prepared by anodic oxidation of Ti foil in an application to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). A fullerene derivative called PC61BM was used as a material for the surface modification of TiO2 nanotube arrays to improve the power conversion efficiency of DSCs Although open circuit voltages (Voc) were slightly decreased by PC61BM interlayer, short circuit current densities (Jsc) were increased and thus the power conversion efficiencies were improved. EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) results showed superior properties for PC61BM-coated samples.     

High‐Efficiency Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells with a Parallel Tandem Configuration

In this work, a highly efficient parallel connected tandem solar cell utilizing a nonfullerene acceptor is demonstrated. Guided by optical simulation, each of the active layer thicknesses of subcells are tuned to maximize its light trapping without spending intense effort to match photocurrent. Interestingly, a strong optical microcavity with dual oscillation centers is formed in a back subcell, which further enhances light absorption. The parallel tandem device shows an improved photon‐to‐electron response over the range between 450 and 800 nm, and a high short‐circuit current density (J _SC) of 17.92 mA cm^?2. In addition, the subcells show high fill factors due to reduced recombination loss under diluted light intensity. These merits enable an overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of >10% for this tandem cell, which represents a ≈15% enhancement compared to the optimal single‐junction device. Further application of the designed parallel tandem configuration to more efficient single‐junction cells enable a PCE of >11%, which is the highest efficiency among all parallel connected organic solar cells (OSCs). This work stresses the importance of employing a parallel tandem configuration for achieving efficient light harvesting in nonfullerene‐based OSCs. It provides a useful strategy for exploring the ultimate performance of organic solar cells.     

Singlet exciton fission-sensitized infrared quantum dot solar cells

We demonstrate an organic/inorganic hybrid photovoltaic device architecture that uses singlet exciton fission to permit the collection of two electrons per absorbed high-energy photon while simultaneously harvesting low-energy photons. In this solar cell, infrared photons are absorbed using lead sulfide (PbS) nanocrystals. Visible photons are absorbed in pentacene to create singlet excitons, which undergo rapid exciton fission to produce pairs of triplets. Crucially, we identify that these triplet excitons can be ionized at an organic/inorganic heterointerface. We report internal quantum efficiencies exceeding 50% and power conversion efficiencies approaching 1%. These findings suggest an alternative route to circumvent the Shockley-Queisser limit on the power conversion efficiency of single-junction solar cells.     

Hybrid silicon nanocone-polymer solar cells

Recently, hybrid Si/organic solar cells have been studied for low-cost Si photovoltaic devices because the Schottky junction between the Si and organic material can be formed by solution processes at a low temperature. In this study, we demonstrate a hybrid solar cell composed of Si nanocones and conductive polymer. The optimal nanocone structure with an aspect ratio (height/diameter of a nanocone) less than two allowed for conformal polymer surface coverage via spin-coating while also providing both excellent antireflection and light trapping properties. The uniform heterojunction over the nanocones with enhanced light absorption resulted in a power conversion efficiency above 11%. Based on our simulation study, the optimal nanocone structures for a 10 μm thick Si solar cell can achieve a short-circuit current density, up to 39.1 mA/cm(2), which is very close to the theoretical limit. With very thin material and inexpensive processing, hybrid Si nanocone/polymer solar cells are promising as an economically viable alternative energy solution.     

太阳电池填充因子随日照强度变化的理论分析与计算

根据太阳电池直流模型和最大功率点数学条件,推出短路电流、开路电压、最大功率点电流和电压 以及填充因子随日照强度变化的数学关系式;并选取２个电池分别计算出在不同日照强度下上述电池参数随日 照强度的变化率。验证了短路电流和最大功率点电流是近似跟日照强度成正比,开路电压和最大功率点电压是 近似跟日照强度的自然对数成正比。并提出了填充因子随日照强度的变化关系不具有简单的函数形式,而对不 同的太阳电池其变化关系也迥异。最后用Multisim的模拟结果检验了理论分析计算的正确性。     

Arylamine-based squaraine donors for use in organic solar cells

Squaraine (SQ) dyes are notable for their exceptionally high absorption coefficients extending from the green to the near-infrared. In this work, we utilize the functionalized SQ donor: 2,4-bis [4-(N-phenyl-1-naphthylamino)-2,6-dihydroxyphenyl] squaraine (1-NPSQ) by substitution of isobutylamines in the common "parent SQ" with arylamines to improve stacking and hence exciton and charge transport. The strong electron-withdrawing arylamine group results in a highest occupied molecular orbital energy of 5.3 eV, compared to 5.1 eV for the parent SQ, making 1-NPSQ a suitable donor when used with a C(60) acceptor in an organic photovoltaic cell. Optimized and thermally annealed, nanocrystalline heterojunction 1-NPSQ/C(60)/bathocuproine solar cells with an open circuit voltage of 0.90 ± 0.01 V, fill factor of 0.64 ± 0.01, and short circuit current of 10.0 ± 1.1 mA/cm(2) at 1 sun, AM1.5G illumination (solar spectrally corrected) result in a power conversion efficiency of 5.7 ± 0.6%. Crystallograpnic data suggest that the intermolecular stacking of 1-NPSQ molecules is closer than that of the parent SQ, thereby reducing the device series resistance and increasing its fill factor.     

Facile fabrication of Si nanowire arrays for solar cell application

Large-area Si nanowire arrays have been fabricated on phosphorus doped Si surface by a facile silver-catalyzed chemical etching process. The solar cell incorporated with Si nanowire arrays shows a power conversion efficiency of 6.69% with an open circuit voltage of 558 mV and a short circuit current density of 25.13 mA/cm2 under AM 1.5 G illumination without using any extra antireflection layer and surface passivation technique. The high power conversion efficiency of Si nanowires based-solar cell is attributed to the low reflectance loss of Si nanowire arrays for incident sunlight. Optimization of electrical contact and phosphorus diffusion process will be critical to improve the performance of Si nanowires-based solar cell in the future.     

Printing highly efficient organic solar cells

The technological attraction in organic solar cells is their compatibility to printing processes. However, up to today, nearly no literature on "printed" organic solar cells have been published and the major body of the research work was done by spin coating or blading techniques. Transferring the spin-coating or doctor blading process currently used for the fabrication of bulk heterojunction solar cell to a printing process holds morphological challenges that have not been observed or reported up to today. We highlight these challenges and we show that inkjet printing of organic bulk heterojunction solar cells requires completely novel approaches and skill sets compared to the current state of the art. By adjusting the chemical properties of the poly(3-hexylthiophene) polymer donor and by using our recently developed inkjet solvent mixture, we have gained control over the nanomorphology of poly(3-hexylthiophene):fullerene blends during the printing process and report a new record power conversion efficiency of 3.5% for inkjet printed poly(3-hexylthiophene):fullerene based solar cells.     

Monolithic Organic/Colloidal Quantum Dot Hybrid Tandem Solar Cells via Buffer Engineering

Monolithically integrated hybrid tandem solar cells (TSCs) that combine solution-processed colloidal quantum dot (CQD) and organic molecules are a promising device architecture, able to complement the absorption across the visible to the infrared. However, the performance of organic/CQD hybrid TSCs has not yet surpassed that of single-junction CQD solar cells. Here, a strategic optical structure is devised to overcome the prior performance limit of hybrid TSCs by employing a multibuffer layer and a dual near-infrared (NIR) absorber. In particular, a multibuffer layer is introduced to solve the problem of the CQD solvent penetrating the underlying organic layer. In addition, the matching current of monolithic TSCs is significantly improved to 15.2 mA cm⁻² by using a dual NIR organic absorber that complements the absorption of CQD. The hybrid TSCs reach a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.7%, higher than that of the corresponding individual single-junction cells, representing the highest efficiency reported to date for CQD-based hybrid TSCs.     

Microgrid Electrode for Si Microwire Solar Cells with a Fill Factor of Over 80%

Here, a novel microgrid top electrode for highly efficient radial‐junction Si microwire solar cells is demonstrated. The microgrid electrode minimizes optical and electrical losses, thus ensuring proper function of the shallow (sheet resistance of ≈100 Ω sq⁻¹) junction emitter. This leads to effective collection of the photocarriers from the shallow junction emitter through the top electrode without severe Auger/surface recombination, improving the overall power conversion efficiency of the Si microwire solar cell. With an optimized microgrid structure, 1 cm² microwire solar cells show a conversion efficiency of up to 16.5%, with an open‐circuit voltage of 565.2 mV and a short‐circuit current density of 35.9 mA·cm⁻²; this conversion efficiency is 72% higher than that of solar cells with an edge electrode (9.6%). Further, an ≈1 μm thick Ni electrode that is formed by electroplating considerably reduces the metal and contact resistances, which reproducibly yields a fill factor of over 80% (max 81.2%). Thus, the use of a novel microgrid to construct an ideal metal/emitter interface presents a unique opportunity to develop highly efficient microwire solar cells.