Guidelines for the bandgap combinations and absorption windows for organic tandem and triple-junction solar cells

Materials

Volumn 5, Issue 10, 2012, Pages 1933-1953

  Minnaert, Ben ^a   Veelaert, Peter ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY COLLEGE GHENT   (Belgium)

Author keywords

Absorption window; Bandgap; Modeling; Multi junction solar cells; Organic solar cells; Power conversion efficiency; Tandem solar cells; Triple junction solar cells

Indexed keywords

MULTI JUNCTION SOLAR CELLS; ORGANIC SOLAR CELL; POWER CONVERSION EFFICIENCIES; TANDEM SOLAR CELLS; TRIPLE JUNCTION SOLAR CELLS;

CONVERSION EFFICIENCY; ENERGY GAP; MODELS; NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS; SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS;

SOLAR CELLS;

EID: 84870007189     PISSN: None     EISSN: 19961944     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3390/ma5101933     Document Type: Article

References (54)

1. Service, R.F. Outlook brightens for plastic solar cells. Science 2011, 332, 293-293.
2. Miyake, K.; Uetani, Y.; Seike, T.; Kato, T.; Oya, K.; Yoshimura, K.; Ohnishi, T. Development of Next Generation Organic Solar Cell, 2010. Available online: http://ww.sumitomochem.co.jp/english/rd/report/theses/docs/20100101_5cu.pdf (accessed on 18 October 2012)
3. Green, M.A.; Emery, K.; Hishikawa, Y.; Warta, W.; Dunlop, E.D. Solar cell efficiency tables (version 39). Prog. Photovoltaics 2012, 20, 12-20.
4. Winder, C.; Sariciftci, N.S. Low bandgap polymers for photon harvesting in bulk heterojunction solar cells. J. Mater. Chem. 2004, 14, 1077-1086.
5. Hadipour, A.; de Boer, B.; Wildeman, J.; Kooistra, F.B.; Hummelen, J.C.; Turbiez, M.G.R.; Wienk, M.M.; Janssen, R.A.J.; Blom, P.W.M. Solution-processed organic tandem solar cells. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2006, 16, 1897-1903.
6. Janssen, A.G.F.; Riedl, T.; Hamwi, S.; Johannes, H.H.; Kowalsky, W. Highly efficient organic tandem solar cells using an improved connecting architecture. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2007, 91, 073519:1-073519:3.
7. Tvingstedt, K.; Andersson, V.; Zhang, F.; Inganas, O. Folded reflective tandem polymer solar cell doubles efficiency. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2007, 91, 123514:1-123514:3.
8. Gilot, J.; Wienk, M.M.; Janssen, R.A.J. Double and triple junction polymer solar cells processed from solution. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2007, 90, 143512:1-143512:3
9. Kim, J.Y.; Lee, K.; Coates, N.E.; Moses, D.; Nguyen, T.-Q.; Dante, M.; Heeger, A.J. Efficient tandem polymer solar cells fabricated by all-solution processing. Science 2007, 317, 222-225.
10. Sista, S.; Park, M.H.; Hong, Z.R.; Wu, Y.; Hou, J.H.; Kwan, W.L.; Li, G.; Yang, Y. Highly efficient tandem polymer photovoltaic cells. Advan. Mater. 2010, 22, 380-383.
11. Riede, M.; Uhrich, C.; Widmer, J.; Timmreck, R.; Wynands, D.; Schwartz, G.; Gnehr, W.M.; Hildebrandt, D.; Weiss, A.; Hwang, J.; et al. Efficient organic tandem solar cells based on small molecules. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2011, 21, 3019-3028.
12. Gevaerts, V.S.; Furlan, A.; Wienk, M.M.; Turbiez, M.; Janssen, R.A.J. Solution processed polymer tandem solar cell using efficient small and wide bandgap polymer: Fullerene blends. Advan. Mater. 2012, 24, 2130-2134.
13. Triyana, K.; Yasuda, T.; Fujita, K.; Tsutsui, T. Tandem-type organic solar cells by stacking different heterojunction materials. Thin Solid Films 2005, 477, 198-202.
14. Hadipour, A.; de Boer, B.; Blom, P.W.M. Organic tandem and multi-junction solar cells. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2008, 18, 169-181.
15. Zhao, D.W.; Sun, X.W.; Jiang, C.Y.; Kyaw, A.K.K.; Lo, G.Q.; Kwong, D.L. An efficient triple-tandem polymer solar cell. IEEE Electron Dev. Lett. 2009, 30, 490-492.
16. Heliatek, G. Heliatek sets new world record efficiency of 10.7% for its organic tandem cell. 2012. Available online: http://www.heliatek.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/120427_PI_Heliatekworld-record-10_7-percent-efficiency.pdf (accessed on 27 April 2012).
17. Li, G.; Zhu, R.; Yang, Y. Polymer solar cells. Nat. Photonics 2012, 6, 153-161.
18. Scharber, M.C.; Wuhlbacher, D.; Koppe, M.; Denk, P.; Waldauf, C.; Heeger, A.J.; Brabec, C.L. Design rules for donors in bulk-heterojunction solar cells-towards 10% energy-conversion efficiency. Advan. Mater. 2006, 18, 789-794.
19. Coakley, K.M.; McGehee, M.D. Conjugated polymer photovoltaic cells. Chem. Mater. 2004, 16, 4533-4542.
20. Dennler, G.; Forberich, K.; Ameri, T.; Waldauf, C.; Denk, P.; Brabec, C.J.; Hingerl, K.; Heeger, A.J. Design of efficient organic tandem cells: On the interplay between molecular absorption and layer sequence. J. Appl. Phys. 2007, 102, 123109:1-123109:6.
21. Persson, N.-K.; Inganas, O. Organic tandem solar cells-modelling and predictions. Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cells 2006, 90, 3491-3507.
22. Dennler, G.; Scharber, M.C.; Ameri, T.; Denk, P.; Forberich, K.; Waldauf, C.; Brabec, C.J. Design rules for donors in bulk-heterojunction tandem solar cells-towards 15% energy-conversion efficiency. Advan. Mater. 2008, 20, 579-583.
23. Rand, B.P.; Burk, D.P.; Forrest, S.R. Offset energies at organic semiconductor heterojunctions and their influence on the open-circuit voltage of thin-film solar cells. Phys. Rev. B 2007, 75, 115327:1-115327:11.
24. Lunt, R.R.; Osedach, T.P.; Brown, P.R.; Rowehl, J.A.; Bulovic, V. Practical roadmap and limits to nanostructured photovoltaics. Advan. Mater. 2011, 23, 5712-5727.
25. Moliton, A.; Nunzi, J.M. How to model the behaviour of organic photovoltaic cells. Polym. Int. 2006, 55, 583-600.
26. Koster, L.J.A.; Mihailetchi, V.D.; Blom, P.W.M. Ultimate efficiency of polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2006, 88, 093511:1-093511:3.
27. Minnaert, B.; Burgelman, M.; De Vos, A.; Veelaert, P. Simulation of the influence of the absorption window for stacked and monolithic organic tandem solar cells. Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cells 2010, 94, 1125-1131.
28. Minnaert, B.; Veelaert, P. Modelling of Organic Triple-Junction Solar Cells. In Organic Photonics V, Proceeding of SPIE 8435, Brussels, Belgium, 16 April 2012; Rand, B.P., Adachi, C., van Elsbergen, V., Eds.; SPIE: Bellingham, WA, USA, 2012; Volume 8435, doi:10.1117/12.921779.
29. Tang, C.W. Two-layer organic photovoltaic cell. Appl. Phys. Lett. 1986, 48, 183-185.
30. Reyes-Reyes, M.; Kim, K.; Carroll, D.L. High-efficiency photovoltaic devices based on annealed poly(3-hexylthiophene) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)c-61 blends. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2005, 87, 083506:1-083506:3.
31. Frere, P.; Raimundo, J.M.; Blanchard, P.; Delaunay, J.; Richomme, P.; Sauvajol, J.L.; Orduna, J.; Garin, J.; Roncali, J. Effect of local molecular structure on the chain-length dependence of the electronic properties of thiophene-based pi-conjugated systems. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 7254-7265.
32. Roquet, S.; Cravino, A.; Leriche, P.; Aleveque, O.; Frere, P.; Roncali, J. Triphenylaminethienylenevinylene hybrid systems with internal charge transfer as donor materials for heterojunction solar cells. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 3459-3466.
33. Bundgaard, E.; Krebs, F.C. Low band gap polymers for organic photovoltaics. Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cells 2007, 91, 954-985.
34. Minnaert, B.; Burgelman, M. Efficiency potential of organic bulk heterojunction solar cells. Prog. Photovoltaics 2007, 15, 741-748.
35. Nicolaidis, N.C.; Routley, B.S.; Holdsworth, J.L.; Belcher, W.J.; Zhou, X.J.; Dastoor, P.C. Fullerene contribution to photocurrent generation in organic photovoltaic cells. J. Phys. Chem. C 2011, 115, 7801-7805.
36. Dennler, G.; Sariciftci, N.S. Flexible conjugated polymer-based plastic solar cells: From basics to applications. Proc. IEEE 2005, 93, 1429-1439.
37. Hoppe, H.; Egbe, D.A.M.; Muhlbacher, D.; Sariciftci, N.S. Photovoltaic action of conjugated polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells using novel ppe-ppv copolymers. J. Mater. Chem. 2004, 14, 3462-3467.
38. Gadisa, A.; Svensson, M.; Andersson, M.R.; Inganas, O. Correlation between oxidation potential and open-circuit voltage of composite solar cells based on blends of polythiophenes/fullerene derivative. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2004, 84, 1609-1611.
39. Kooistra, F.B.; Knol, J.; Kastenberg, F.; Popescu, L.M.; Verhees, W.J.H.; Kroon, J.M.; Hummelen, J.C. Increasing the open circuit voltage of bulk-heterojunction solar cells by raising the lumo level of the acceptor. Org. Lett. 2007, 9, 551-554.
40. Brabec, C.J.; Cravino, A.; Meissner, D.; Sariciftci, N.S.; Fromherz, T.; Rispens, M.T.; Sanchez, L.; Hummelen, J.C. Origin of the open circuit voltage of plastic solar cells. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2001, 11, 374-380.
41. Morvillo, P.; Bobeico, E. Tuning the lumo level of the acceptor to increase the open-circuit voltage of polymer-fullerene solar cells: A quantum chemical study. Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cells 2008, 92, 1192-1198.
42. Mihailetchi, V.D.; Blom, P.W.M.; Hummelen, J.C.; Rispens, M.T. Cathode dependence of the open-circuit voltage of polymer: Fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells. J. Appl. Phys. 2003, 94, 6849-6854.
43. International Electrotechnical Commission. International Standard, IEC 60904-3, Photovoltaic Devices-Part 3: Measurement Principles for Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Devices with Reference Spectral Irradiance Data, 2nd ed.; International Electrotechnical Commission: Geneva, Switzerland, 2008.
44. Sun, S.S. Optimal energy offsets for organic solar cells containing a donor/acceptor pair. Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cells 2005, 85, 261-267.
45. Peumans, P.; Yakimov, A.; Forrest, S.R. Small molecular weight organic thin-film photodetectors and solar cells. J. Appl. Phys. 2003, 93, 3693-3723.
46. Riede, M.; Mueller, T.; Tress, W.; Schueppel, R.; Leo, K. Small-molecule solar cells-status and perspectives. Nanotechnology 2008, 19, doi:10.1088/0957-4484/19/42/424001.
47. Minnaert, B.; Burgelman, M. Empirical study of the characteristics of current-state organic bulk heterojunction solar cells. Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. 2007, 38, 111-114.
48. Sonmez, G.; Shen, C.K.F.; Rubin, Y.; Wudl, F. The unusual effect of bandgap lowering by c-60 on a conjugated polymer. Advan. Mater. 2005, 17, 897-900.
49. Kroon, R.; Lenes, M.; Hummelen, J.C.; Blom, P.W.M.; De Boer, B. Small bandgap polymers for organic solar cells (polymer material development in the last 5 years). Polym. Rev. 2008, 48, 531-582.
50. Thompson, B.C.; Kim, Y.-G.; McCarley, T.D.; Reynolds, J.R. Soluble narrow band gap and blue propylenedioxythiophene-cyanovinylene polymers as multifunctional materials for photovoltaic and electrochromic applications. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 12714-12725.
51. Yi, H.N.; Johnson, R.G.; Iraqi, A.; Mohamad, D.; Royce, R.; Lidzey, D.G. Narrow energy gap polymers with absorptions up to 1200nm and their photovoltaic properties. Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2008, 29, 1804-1809.
52. Vanlaeke, P.; Swinnen, A.; Haeldermans, I.; Vanhoyland, G.; Aernouts, T.; Cheyns, D.; Deibel, C.; D'Haen, J.; Heremans, P.; Poortmans, J., et al. P3ht/pcbm bulk heterojunction solar cells: Relation between morphology and electro-optical characteristics. Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cells 2006, 90, 2150-2158.
53. Nunzi, J.M. Organic photovoltaic materials and devices. C. R. Phys. 2002, 3, 523-542.
54. Schueppel, R.; Timmreck, R.; Allinger, N.; Mueller, T.; Furno, M.; Uhrich, C.; Leo, K.; Riede, M. Controlled current matching in small molecule organic tandem solar cells using doped spacer layers. J. Appl. Phys. 2010, 107, 044503:1-044503:6.