Researchers significantly improve organic solar cell efficiency
A team of researchers has created a semi-transparent organic solar cell that is more efficient and transparent than existing models. The study, published in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials, attempted to balance high power conversion efficiency with high transparency. It has historically been difficult to negotiate the trade-off between the two variables. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology decided to bypass the issue by developing a ternary mixture and a dye which absorbs light exclusively in the near-infrared wavelength region. Transparent solar cells can be used to turn windows and screens into sources of energy. 
(a) Optical microscopy image of the commercial substrate that consists of a random mesh-like silver network on PET. Optical confocal microscopy images of the laminate electrode when coating with a ~450 nm thick (b) and ~1.3 um thick (c) PEDOT:PSS:sorbitol film. For small film thicknesses (b), the metal network is not fully covered. (d) Photograph of the semitransparent, laminated cell. Credit: Mohammed Makha et al

Researchers developed a semi-transparent organic solar cell that achieves better efficiency and transparency than existing ones, according to a recent study in the Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM).

Semi-transparent organic solar cells (OSCs) have potential for providing low-cost, large-area energy conversion devices for various applications such as windows, roof covers and greenhouses. However, it is challenging to achieve semi-transparent OSCs with high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and high transparency at the same time. Usually, the active materials of OSCs consist of a binary blend of a visibly absorbing donor polymer and a fullerene acceptor. The average visible transmittance (AVT) of the cell can be increased by decreasing the binary film thickness; however, this goes at the expense of the PCE because less sunlight is absorbed by a thinner layer.

In a STAM study, a team led by Mohammed Makha from the Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology bypassed this tradeoff between transparency and efficiency of OSCs by using a ternary mixture. In addition, they used a flexible and transparent top electrode that was applied via a lamination step. As an advantage, the lamination process is simple and compatible with roll-to-roll systems for OSC production from solution.

The team added to a visibly absorbing binary polymer-fullerene blend a dye as a third minority component. The dye absorbs light exclusively in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength region and therefore does not reduce the visible transparency of the OSC. Due to the additional current generated via NIR absorption, the polymer content could be reduced without compromising the cell performance. Semitransparent OSCs with a uniform AVT or 51% and a PCE of 3% were demonstrated.

The researchers say that the concept of ternary OSCs with multiple acceptor or donor materials has been recognized before as a strategy to overcome specific limitations of binary blends. However, not many successful ternary systems have been found so far, because the developing film morphology is difficult to control. The team believes that their ternary blend performs so well because of a specific intermixed phase between the NIR dye and the fullerene; therefore, the system could successfully work with other polymers.

More information: Mohammed Makha et al. Ternary semitransparent organic solar cells with a laminated top electrode, Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (2017). DOI: 10.1080/14686996.2016.1261602 Journal information: Science and Technology of Advanced Materials