The Suitability of Organic Solar Cells for Different Indoor Conditions

2010 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 170-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Minnaert ◽  
Peter Veelaert
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Minimum Requirements ◽  
Indoor Conditions

Most commercially available photovoltaic solar cells are crystalline silicon cells. However, in indoor environments, the efficiency of Si-cells is poor. Typically, the light intensity under artificial lighting conditions is less than 10 W/m² as compared to 100-1000 W/m² under outdoor conditions. Moreover, the spectrum is different from the outdoor solar spectrum and there is more diffuse than direct light. Taken into account the predicted cheaper costs for the production of organic solar cells, a possible niche market for organic PV can be indoor applications. In this article, we study the properties and suitability of several bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (with distinct different absorption spectra) for different indoor conditions. We simulate different light environments and use a silicon solar cell as reference. Depending on the required power for the indoor device, we determine minimum requirements for the environment (light intensity and indoor spectrum) and for the organic solar cell (absorption spectrum and surface area). In this way we determine the appropriateness and conditions for a competitive indoor use of organic solar cells.

scholarly journals Conducting Polymers for Optoelectronic Devices and Organic Solar Cells: A Review

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ary R. Murad ◽  
Ahmed Iraqi ◽  
Shujahadeen B. Aziz ◽  
Sozan N. Abdullah ◽  
Mohamad A. Brza
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Conjugated Polymers ◽  
Molecular Orbital ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Field Effect Transistors ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Organic Polymer

In this review paper, we present a comprehensive summary of the different organic solar cell (OSC) families. Pure and doped conjugated polymers are described. The band structure, electronic properties, and charge separation process in conjugated polymers are briefly described. Various techniques for the preparation of conjugated polymers are presented in detail. The applications of conductive polymers for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic field effect transistors (OFETs), and organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are explained thoroughly. The architecture of organic polymer solar cells including single layer, bilayer planar heterojunction, and bulk heterojunction (BHJ) are described. Moreover, designing conjugated polymers for photovoltaic applications and optimizations of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels are discussed. Principles of bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells are addressed. Finally, strategies for band gap tuning and characteristics of solar cell are presented. In this article, several processing parameters such as the choice of solvent(s) for spin casting film, thermal and solvent annealing, solvent additive, and blend composition that affect the nano-morphology of the photoactive layer are reviewed.

Branched Thiophene Oligomer/Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cell

2015 ◽  
Vol 1737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Martinez ◽  
Gloria Neculqueo ◽  
Sergio O. Vasquez ◽  
Helge Lemmetyinen ◽  
Alexander Efimov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cell ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Photovoltaic Cell ◽  
Organic Photovoltaic ◽  
Organic Photovoltaic Cell ◽  
Polymer Bulk ◽  
Branched Structures

ABSTRACTThiophene small novel branched structures have been proposed as candidates for dopant agents transporting holes-electron in organic solar cell (OSC). Low-band gap of these branched oligotiophene have been obtained to be used in organic solar cells. Two branched thiophene oligomers, a sexithienylene vinylene (E)-Bis-1,2-(5,5´´-Dimethyl-(2,2´:3´,2´´-terthiophene) vinylene, (BSTV) and octathienylene vinylene (BOTV) (E)-Bis-1,2-(5,5´´´-Dimethyl-(2,2´:5´,2´´:3´,2´´´-tetrathiophene) vinylene oligomers, have been synthesized and used as electron donor or dopant in a bulk heterojunction poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), /[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methylester (PCBM), Organic Photovoltaic cell.

Asymmetric triphenylamine–phenothiazine based small molecules with varying terminal acceptors for solution processed bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 6390-6400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srikanth Revoju ◽  
Subhayan Biswas ◽  
Bertil Eliasson ◽  
Ganesh D. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Solution Processed ◽  
End Group

A change of electron-withdrawing end group in organic donor compounds in blends with PC71BM results in enhancement of solar cell PCE from 4.79 to 7.25%.

First solar cells based on CdTe nanoparticle/MEH-PPV composites

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1990-1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Kumar ◽  
Thomas Nann
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cell ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Phenylene Vinylene ◽  
Current Voltage Characteristic ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Cdte Nanocrystal

Hybrid bulk heterojunction composites are promising material for low-cost organic solar cells. Fundamental measurements with CdTe nanocrystal/MEH-PPV poly [2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] composites and the first realization of a solar cell based on this material are presented. Optical and electrochemical properties are discussed as well as the current voltage characteristic of the resulting cell. It was found, that CdTe nanocrystal/MEH-PPV composites are well suited for an organic solar cell, even though the technological realization needs to be improved.

scholarly journals About the Implementation of Frequency Conversion Processes in Solar Cell Device Simulations

Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Quandt ◽  
Tahir Aslan ◽  
Itumeleng Mokgosi ◽  
Robert Warmbier ◽  
Maurizio Ferrari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Rare Earth ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Frequency Conversion ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell ◽  
Solar Cell Device ◽  
Electronic Band

Solar cells are electrical devices that can directly convert sunlight into electricity. While solar cells are a mature technology, their efficiencies are still far below the theoretical limit. The major losses in a typical semiconductor solar cell are due to the thermalization of electrons in the UV and visible range of the solar spectrum, the inability of a solar cell to absorb photons with energies below the electronic band gap, and losses due to the recombination of electrons and holes, which mainly occur at the contacts. These prevent the realization of the theoretical efficiency limit of 85% for a generic photovoltaic device. A promising strategy to harness light with minimum thermal losses outside the typical frequency range of a single junction solar cell could be frequency conversion using rare earth ions, as suggested by Trupke. In this work, we discuss the modelling of generic frequency conversion processes in the context of solar cell device simulations, which can be used to supplement experimental studies. In the spirit of a proof-of-concept study, we limit the discussion to up-conversion and restrict ourselves to a simple rare earth model system, together with a basic diode model for a crystalline silicon solar cell. The results of this show that these simulations are very useful for the development of new types of highly efficient solar cells.

scholarly journals Investigation of PCBM Concentration on the Performance of Small Organic Solar Cell

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasser A. M. Ismail ◽  
T. Soga ◽  
T. Jimbo
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Charge Carrier ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Fullerene Derivative ◽  
Performance Parameters ◽  
Carrier Separation

We have fabricated bulk heterojunction organic solar cells using coumarin 6 (C6) as a small organic dye, for light harvesting and electron donating, with fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), acting as an electron acceptor, by spin-coating technique of the blend solutions. We have studied effect of PCBM concentration on photocurrent and performance parameters of the solar cells. We found that the optical absorption of the dye increased with increasing its concentration in the active layer blends. The higher concentrations of PCBM in active layer enhanced the photocurrent of the solar cells, as a result of improving charge carrier separation and electron transport in solar cell active layer. The improved charge carrier separation between C6, as a donor, and PCBM, as an acceptor, was indicated through the formation of bulk heterojunction by blending C6 with PCBM. The formation of C6:PCBM bulk heterojunction blend was confirmed through the symbatic behavior of the corresponding solar cell and, also, through the homogeneity and smoothing in the atomic force microscopy images of the C6:PCBM blend films. For the same reasons, the performance parameters of the C6:PCBM solar cell improved by modification of the PCBM concentration in the solar cell active layer.

scholarly journals Intermediate Layers in Tandem Organic Solar Cells

Green ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongbo Yuan ◽  
Jinsong Huang ◽  
Gang Li
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cell ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Device Performance ◽  
Tandem Solar Cell ◽  
Solution Processed ◽  
Intermediate Layers

AbstractTandem structures can boost the efficiency of organic solar cell to more than 15%, compared to the 10% limit of single layer bulk heterojunction devices. Design and fabricating of intermediate layers plays a very important role to achieve high device performance. This article will review the main experimental progresses of tandem organic solar cells, and focus on the intermediate layers (charge recombination layers) in both thermal evaporated and solution processed organic tandem solar cell devices.

Fabrication of Flexible and Semitransparent PTB7:PC71BM Organic Solar Cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 916 ◽  
pp. 212-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shunjiro Fujii
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Power Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Flexible Substrates ◽  
Device Structure ◽  
Photovoltaic Applications ◽  
Pet Substrate

Semitransparent bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells have attracted a strong attention due to the possible use in new photovoltaic applications. However, semitransparent BHJ solar cells on flexible substrates have not yet been developed. In this work, flexible BHJ solar cells were fabricated on an ITO/PET substrate using an inverted PET/ITO/PFN/PTB7:PC71BM/MoO3/Au device structure. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device was 3.4 %. Fabrication of semitransparent solar cells was further demonstrated utilizing a MoO3/Au/MoO3 transparent anode. The semitransparent solar cell showed bifacial energy generation when illuminated from both front and backside. The PCEs with illumination from the ITO or Au/MoO3 side were 2.7 % and 2.1 %, respectively. These results showed that a semitransparent PTB7:PC71BM solar cell was successfully fabricated on flexible PET substrates.

Investigation of Recombination Process of P3HT: PCBM Organic Solar Cell

2012 ◽  
Vol 622-623 ◽  
pp. 1147-1151
Author(s):  
E.K. Chiew ◽  
Muhammad Yahaya ◽  
A.P. Othman
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Experimental Result ◽  
Semiconductor Layer ◽  
Recombination Mechanism ◽  
Effective Medium Model ◽  
Cell Capacitance

We applied an effective medium model for a computational study and investigated a recombination mechanism in a P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells where the main assumption is the p-n nanostructure is treated as one single effective semiconductor layer, and parameters in this configuration are fed into a standard solar cell device simulator, called a Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS). Using SCAPS, the electrical performances of organic solar cells and the intensity-dependent current density -voltage (J-V) were simulated and compared with the actual experimental result. The results show that they are in good agreement with each other and monomolecular recombination mechanism is the dominant mechanism in the BHJ organic solar cells.

scholarly journals Designing Well-Organized Donor-Bridge-Acceptor Conjugated Systems Based on Cyclopentadithiophene as Donors in Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells: DFT-Based Modeling and Calculations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rania Zaier ◽  
Sahbi Ayachi
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Novel Structure ◽  
General Transport ◽  
Excitation Processes

Two host materials based on CPDT as donors in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells were designed and investigated by means of DFT calculations. The first one (P-CPDTBT3) is a copolymer with D-A configuration and the second one (SM-CPDTDPP) is a D-π-A-π-D type small molecule. The investigated materials exhibited interesting structural properties with high planarity and rigidity originated from intra-molecular non-covalent interactions between the different building blocks. Thanks to their narrow band gaps, the optical absorption spectra have covered the main part of solar spectrum of interest. In addition, some general transport properties have been established. The transition density matrix (TDM) was used to get insight into the interaction of hole–electron localization and the electronic excitation processes. The photovoltaic parameters (FF, Voc) were calculated. The obtained results have been attempted to provide novel structure–property relationships for the rational design strategies of high-performance photovoltaic materials with power conversion efficiency of nearly 10%.

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