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Title: Highly efficient small molecule multi-junction organic photovoltaic cells

Abstract

A highly efficient multi junction photovoltaic device, such as a two, three, or four junction device, is disclosed. The multi-junction device may include a first subcell comprising a first photoactive region and a second subcell comprising a second photoactive region. The first and second photoactive regions are designed to minimize spectral overlap and maximize photocurrent across a broad absorption spectra, such as wavelengths ranging from 400 nm to 900 nm. The device may further include an inter-connecting layer, disposed between the first subcell and the second subcell, that is at least substantially transparent. By introducing a transparent interconnecting layer, a dual element (tandem) cell achieves a power conversion efficiency of 10.0±0.5%. By adding an additional (3rd) sub-cell that absorbs at the second order optical interference maximum within the stack. The triple junction cell significantly improves the quantum efficiency at shorter wavelengths, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 11.1±0.5%. Adding additional sub-cells has been shown to increase power conversion efficiency above 12%.

Inventors:
; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1892620
Patent Number(s):
11251386
Application Number:
15/125,690
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
DOE Contract Number:  
EE0005310; SC0000957
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 04/06/2015
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Che, Xiaozhou, Xiao, Xin, and Forrest, Stephen R. Highly efficient small molecule multi-junction organic photovoltaic cells. United States: N. p., 2022. Web.
Che, Xiaozhou, Xiao, Xin, & Forrest, Stephen R. Highly efficient small molecule multi-junction organic photovoltaic cells. United States.
Che, Xiaozhou, Xiao, Xin, and Forrest, Stephen R. Tue . "Highly efficient small molecule multi-junction organic photovoltaic cells". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1892620.
@article{osti_1892620,
title = {Highly efficient small molecule multi-junction organic photovoltaic cells},
author = {Che, Xiaozhou and Xiao, Xin and Forrest, Stephen R.},
abstractNote = {A highly efficient multi junction photovoltaic device, such as a two, three, or four junction device, is disclosed. The multi-junction device may include a first subcell comprising a first photoactive region and a second subcell comprising a second photoactive region. The first and second photoactive regions are designed to minimize spectral overlap and maximize photocurrent across a broad absorption spectra, such as wavelengths ranging from 400 nm to 900 nm. The device may further include an inter-connecting layer, disposed between the first subcell and the second subcell, that is at least substantially transparent. By introducing a transparent interconnecting layer, a dual element (tandem) cell achieves a power conversion efficiency of 10.0±0.5%. By adding an additional (3rd) sub-cell that absorbs at the second order optical interference maximum within the stack. The triple junction cell significantly improves the quantum efficiency at shorter wavelengths, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 11.1±0.5%. Adding additional sub-cells has been shown to increase power conversion efficiency above 12%.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2022},
month = {2}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Surprisingly High Conductivity and Efficient Exciton Blocking in Fullerene/Wide-Energy-Gap Small Molecule Mixtures
journal, May 2015


Efficient Tandem and Triple-Junction Polymer Solar Cells
journal, April 2013


Accurate spectral response measurements of a complementary absorbing organic tandem cell with fill factor exceeding the subcells
journal, March 2014


Role of transition metal oxides in the charge recombination layer used in tandem organic photovoltaic cells
journal, January 2012


Highly efficient bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells based on C 70 and tetraphenyldibenzoperiflanthene
journal, April 2013