Semitransparent organic solar cells

doi:10.1007/s12200-014-0395-5

Front Optoelec

2014, Vol. 7

Issue (1) : 20-27 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-014-0395-5

REVIEW ARTICLE

Semitransparent organic solar cells

Furong ZHU(

)

Department of Physics and Institute of Advanced Materials, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China

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Abstract

The organic solar cell technology has attracted great interests due to its potential of low cost solution process capability. Bulk heterojunction organic solar cells offer a potentially much cheaper alternative way to harness solar energy, and can be made flexible and large area. They can also be made translucent and in different colors. As a result, the inexpensive fabrication process such as solution-process techniques, mechanical flexibility, light weight and visible-light transparency features make organic solar technology attractive for application in new markets, such as smart sensors, power generating window panes, building architecture, greenhouses and outdoor lifestyle, etc. After a brief overview of basics of organic photovoltaics, the enhancement of semitransparent organic solar cells over the two competing performance indices of power conversion efficiency and transmittance will be discussed.

Keywords organic photovoltaic transparent electrode optical and optimal design optical admittance analysis

Corresponding Author(s): ZHU Furong,Email:frzhu@hkbu.edu.hk

Issue Date: 05 March 2014

Cite this article:

Furong ZHU. Semitransparent organic solar cells[J]. Front Optoelec, 2014, 7(1): 20-27.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/10.1007/s12200-014-0395-5
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/Y2014/V7/I1/20

Fig.1 (a) Calculated transmittance and integrated absorptance of the P3HT:PCBM active layer as a function of its layer thickness for semitransparent OSCs of the type: glass/ITO/PEDOT:PSS (40 nm)/P3HT:PCBM (25–300 nm)/Ca (10 nm)/Ag (10 nm)/ ITO (60 nm); (b) a photo picture showing a semitransparent OSC having an optimized cell structure of glass/ITO/PEDOT:PSS (40 nm)/P3HT:PCBM (75 nm)/Ca (10 nm)/Ag (10 nm)/ITO (60 nm)

Fig.2 Calculated results showing the effect of the upper ITO layer thickness on the integrated absorbance of P3HT:PCBM layer and the transmittance of a semitransparent OSC of the type: glass/ITO/PEDOT:PSS (40 nm)/P3HT:PCBM (75 nm)/Ca (10 nm)/Ag (10 nm)/ITO (0–60 nm)

Fig.3 (a) Transmission spectra calculated for two structurally identical semitransparent OSCs with Ca (10 nm)/Ag (10 nm) and Ca (10 nm)/Ag (10 nm)/ITO (60 nm) upper cathodes, respectively. The red symbols represented the transmission spectral measured for semitransparent OSCs made with a Ca (10 nm)/Ag (10 nm)/ITO (60 nm); (b) comparison of characteristics measured for a control OSC, semitransparent OSCs with upper cathodes of Ca (10 nm)/Ag (10 nm) and Ca (10 nm)/Ag (10 nm)/ITO (60 nm)

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