Enhanced Light Utilization in Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics Using an Optical Outcoupling Architecture

Li, Yongxi; Ji, Chengang; Qu, Yue; Huang, Xinjing; Hou, Shaocong; Li, Chang‐Zhi; Liao, Liang‐Sheng; Guo, L. Jay; Forrest, Stephen R.

doi:10.1002/adma.201903173

Enhanced Light Utilization in Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics Using an Optical Outcoupling Architecture

Journal Article · Fri Aug 16 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Advanced Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201903173· OSTI ID:1573353

Li, Yongxi ^[1]; Ji, Chengang ^[2]; Qu, Yue ^[2]; Huang, Xinjing ^[2]; Hou, Shaocong ^[2]; Li, Chang‐Zhi ^[3]; Liao, Liang‐Sheng ^[4]; Guo, L. Jay ^[2]; ^[2]

Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; University of Michigan
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou (China). Dept. of Polymer Science and Engineering
Soochow Univ., Suzhou, Jiangsu (China). Inst. of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)

Building-integrated photovoltaics employing transparent photovoltaic cells on window panes provides an opportunity to convert solar energy to electricity rather than generating waste heat. In this work, we demonstrate semitransparent organic photovoltaic cells (ST-OPVs) that utilize a non-fullerene acceptor based near-infrared (NIR) absorbing ternary cell combined with a thin, semitransparent, high conductivity Cu-Ag alloy electrode. A combination of optical outcoupling and anti-reflection coatings leads to enhance visible transmission, while reflecting the NIR back into the cell where it is absorbed. This combination of coatings results in doubling of the light utilization efficiency (LUE), which is equal to the product of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and the average photopic transparency compared with a conventional semitransparent cell. A maximum LUE = 3.56 ± 0.11% is achieved for a ST-OPV with a PCE = 8.0 ± 0.2% at 1 sun, reference AM1.5G spectrum. Finally, neutral colored ST-OPVs are also demonstrated, with LUE = 2.56 ± 0.2%, along with Commission Internationale d’Eclairage chromaticity coordinates of CIE = (0.337, 0.349) and a color rendering index of CRI = 87.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008561

OSTI ID:: 1573353

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1566209

Journal Information:: Advanced Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Materials Journal Issue: 40 Vol. 31; ISSN 0935-9648

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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