Just how to design natural solar cell products

• Most of us know with silicon solar cells, which can be discovered on the rooftops of contemporary residences. These cells are constructed from 2 silicon layers, which consist of different atoms such as boron as well as phosphorus. When integrated, these layers direct fees created by the soaked up sunlight towards the electrodes - this (photo)current can after that be used to power electronic tools.

The scenario is somewhat different in organic solar cells. Below, two natural products are mixed together, rather than organized in a split structure. They are blends of various kinds of molecules. One type, the acceptor, suches as to take electrons from the other, the contributor. To evaluate how most likely "electron transfer" in between these products happens, one gauges the so-called "electron affinity" as well as "ionization power" of each material.

These amounts show exactly how simple it is to include or draw out an electron from a molecule. In addition to identifying the efficiency of natural solar cells, electron fondness as well as ionization energy additionally manage other material residential or commercial properties, such as shade and also openness.

By combining benefactor and acceptor materials, one creates a solar cell. In an organic solar cell, light-particles ("photons") transfer their power to electrons. Fired up electrons leave favorable fees, called "holes". These electron-hole pairs are then divided at the user interface between the two materials, driven by the differences in the electron affinity as well as ionization energy.

Until now, scientists assumed that both electron affinity as well as ionization energy are just as crucial for the solar cell performance. Scientists from KAUST as well as MPI-P have now found that in many donor-acceptor blends, it is generally the difference of the ionization power between both products, which figures out the efficiency of the solar cell.

The combination of arise from optical spectroscopy experiments, performed in the group of Frederic Laquai at KAUST, in addition to computer simulations done in the group of Denis Andrienko, MPI-P, in the department headed by Kurt Kremer, allowed exact design policies for molecular dyes to be derived, targeted at making best use of solar cell effectiveness.

"In the future, as an example, it would certainly be conceivable to generate clear solar cells that just take in light outside the variety noticeable to humans - but after that with the maximum performance in this array," says Denis Andrienko, co-author of the study released in the journal "Nature Materials". "With such solar cells, entire fronts of homes could be used as energetic surface", Laquai includes.

The authors picture that these research studies will enable them to get to 20 % solar cell performance, a target that market wants for affordable application of natural photovoltaics.