Impressive performance of organic solar cell using tin oxide

• Organic solar cells have a photoactive layer that is made from polymers and tiny molecules. The cells are very slim, can be flexible, as well as are simple to make. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of these cells is still much below that of standard silicon-based ones.

Applied physicists from the University of Groningen have actually now produced an organic solar cell with an effectiveness of over 17%, which is in the leading range for this type of material. It has the advantage of using an unusual tool structure that is produced using a scalable technique. The design involves a conductive layer of tin oxide that is grown by atomic layer deposition. The researchers also have several suggestions to additional improve the performance as well as stability of the cell. The results are defined in the journal Advanced Products on March 31.

In organic solar cells, polymers and small molecules convert light into charges that are collected at the electrodes. These cells are made as thin movies of different layers-- each with its very own homes-- that are stacked onto a substrate. Essential is the photoactive layer, which converts light into charges and separates the electrons from the holes, and the transport and also obstructing layer, which precisely routes the electrons in the direction of the electrode.

Stability

" In a lot of organic solar cells, the electron transport layer is made from zinc oxide, a very transparent and also conductive material that lays below the energetic layer," claims David Garcia Romero, a Ph.D. pupil in the Photophysics as well as Optoelectronics team at the Zernike Institute for Advanced Products at the University of Groningen, led by Teacher Maria Antonietta Loi. Garcia Romero as well as Lorenzo Di Mario, a postdoctoral researcher in the very same group, serviced the concept of using tin oxide as the transport layer. "Zinc oxide is more photoreactive than tin oxide, and for that reason, the last should lead to a higher tool stability," he explains.

Although tin oxide had revealed encouraging cause previous research studies, the most effective means to grow it right into an ideal transport layer for an organic solar cell had not yet been located. "We used atomic layer deposition, a technique that had actually not been used in the field of organic photovoltaics for a long time," says Garcia Romero. Nonetheless, it has some important benefits: "This method can expand layers of outstanding high quality as well as it is scalable to industrial procedures, for example in roll-to-roll processing."

Scalable

The organic solar cells that were made with tin oxide deposited by atomic layer deposition on the top reveal a great efficiency.

" We accomplished a champ effectiveness of 17.26%," states Garcia Romero. The fill aspect, a vital criterion of solar cell high quality, revealed worths up to 79%, in agreement with the document worths for this type of framework. In addition, the optical and also structural attributes of the tin oxide layer could be tuned by varying the temperature level at which the material is deposited. An optimal power conversion was reached in cells with a transport layer that was deposited at 140 degrees Celsius. This same result was demonstrated for two various energetic layers, indicating that the tin oxide improved efficiency in a common method.

" Our goal was to make organic solar cells extra effective and to use approaches that are scalable," says Garcia Romero. The performance is close to the current document for organic solar cells, which stands around 19%. "And also we have not enhanced the various other layers yet. So, we need to push our structure a bit further." Garcia Romero as well as his co-author Lorenzo di Mario are additionally eager to try making larger location cells. These are commonly much less efficient yet are needed to step towards real-world applications and also panels.

The brand-new solar cell with a remarkably high fill element is a good starting factor for further advancement. Garcia Romero observes, "It may be a bit very early for commercial partners to take this on; we need to do some even more study first. As well as we wish that our use of atomic layer deposition will inspire others in the field."

" We always make every effort to comprehend what is happening in a material as well as in a gadget framework," adds Teacher Loi. "Right here, we think that there could be space for renovation. Because procedure, our tin oxide transport layer is a fantastic first step."

This class of solar cells may make an important added contribution to the energy change due to their mechanical properties as well as their openness. "We anticipate that they will be used in an entirely different method than silicon panels," says Loi. "We need to believe more comprehensive as well as out of the box currently."