Nano-structured Organic-Metal Interface for High Efficiency Organic Solar Cells

In the fabrication of crystalline silicon solar cells, the contact properties between the front metal electrode and silicon are one of the most important parameters for achieving high-efficiency, as it is an integral element in the formation of solar cell electrodes. This entails an increase in the surface recombination velocity and a drop in the open-circuit voltage of the solar cell; hence, controlling the recombination velocity at the metal-silicon interface becomes a critical factor in the process. In this study, the distribution of Ag crystallites formed on the silicon-metal interface, the surface recombination velocity in the silicon-metal interface and the resulting changes in the performance of the Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) solar cells were analyzed by controlling the firing temperature. The Ag crystallite distribution gradually increased corresponding to a firing temperature increase from 850 ∘C to 950 ∘C. The surface recombination velocity at the silicon-metal interface increased from 353 to 599 cm/s and the open-circuit voltage of the PERC solar cell decreased from 659.7 to 647 mV. Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD) simulation was used for detailed analysis on the effect of the surface recombination velocity at the silicon-metal interface on the PERC solar cell performance. Simulations showed that the increase in the distribution of Ag crystallites and surface recombination velocity at the silicon-metal interface played an important role in the decrease of open-circuit voltage of the PERC solar cell at temperatures of 850–900 ∘C, whereas the damage caused by the emitter over fire was determined as the main cause of the voltage drop at 950 ∘C. These results are expected to serve as a steppingstone for further research on improvement in the silicon-metal interface properties of silicon-based solar cells and investigation on high-efficiency solar cells.

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Organic Solar Cells: High‐Efficiency Organic Photovoltaics using Eutectic Acceptor Fibrils to Achieve Current Amplification (Adv. Mater. 18/2021)

Advanced Materials ◽

10.1002/adma.202170142 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (18) ◽

pp. 2170142

Author(s):

Ming Zhang ◽

Lei Zhu ◽

Tianyu Hao ◽

Guanqing Zhou ◽

Chaoqun Qiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Organic Photovoltaics ◽

Organic Solar Cells ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Current Amplification

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Stretchable ITO‐Free Organic Solar Cells with Intrinsic Anti‐Reflection Substrate for High‐Efficiency Outdoor and Indoor Energy Harvesting

Advanced Functional Materials ◽

10.1002/adfm.202010172 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (16) ◽

pp. 2010172

Author(s):

Jiaming Huang ◽

Zhiwei Ren ◽

Yaokang Zhang ◽

Kuan Liu ◽

Hengkai Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Energy Harvesting ◽

Organic Solar Cells ◽

High Efficiency

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Cross-Linkable and Alcohol-Soluble Pyridine-Incorporated Polyfluorene Derivative as a Cathode Interface Layer for High-Efficiency and Stable Organic Solar Cells

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces ◽

10.1021/acsami.1c00350 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ping Cai ◽

Xiaofang Huang ◽

Tao Zhan ◽

Guiting Chen ◽

Rihang Qiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Organic Solar Cells ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Interface Layer ◽

Cathode Interface

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Solution-Processed Transparent Conducting Electrodes for Flexible Organic Solar Cells with 16.61% Efficiency

Nano-Micro Letters ◽

10.1007/s40820-020-00566-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Juanyong Wan ◽

Yonggao Xia ◽

Junfeng Fang ◽

Zhiguo Zhang ◽

Bingang Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Work Function ◽

Organic Solar Cells ◽

High Performance ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Electrical Stability ◽

Solution Processed ◽

Good Thermal Stability ◽

Transparent Conducting ◽

High Flexibility

AbstractNonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs) have achieved breakthrough with pushing the efficiency exceeding 17%. While this shed light on OSC commercialization, high-performance flexible OSCs should be pursued through solution manufacturing. Herein, we report a solution-processed flexible OSC based on a transparent conducting PEDOT:PSS anode doped with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (CF3SO3H). Through a low-concentration and low-temperature CF3SO3H doping, the conducting polymer anodes exhibited a main sheet resistance of 35 Ω sq−1 (minimum value: 32 Ω sq−1), a raised work function (≈ 5.0 eV), a superior wettability, and a high electrical stability. The high work function minimized the energy level mismatch among the anodes, hole-transporting layers and electron-donors of the active layers, thereby leading to an enhanced carrier extraction. The solution-processed flexible OSCs yielded a record-high efficiency of 16.41% (maximum value: 16.61%). Besides, the flexible OSCs afforded the 1000 cyclic bending tests at the radius of 1.5 mm and the long-time thermal treatments at 85 °C, demonstrating a high flexibility and a good thermal stability.

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