Color-neutral, semitransparent organic photovoltaics for power window applications

Abstract

We demonstrate a semitransparent organic photovoltaic cell that achieves a power conversion efficiency of 10.8% and visible transparency of ∼50% using a nonfullerene acceptor (NFA) featuring strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption and simple synthesis. Contrary to expectations, stronger NIR absorption and closer molecular packing are obtained by employing an additive in these partially, instead of fully fused, rigid NFAs. By combining NIR-absorbing material sets with an optical outcoupling structure as well as transparent electrode, we overcome the trade-offs between efficiency, transparency, and device appearance. These results surpass other semitransparent solar cell technologies based on organic and other thin-film materials systems, showing a promising future for ST-OPVs as power-generating windows and other solar energy harvesting applications.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Aug 17, 2020
Source ID
10.1073/pnas.2007799117

Entities

People

  • Boning Qu
  • Harald Ade
  • Hongping Yan
  • Maojie Zhang
  • Stephen R. Forrest
  • Xia Guo
  • Yongxi Li
  • Zhengxing Peng

Organizations

  • National Natural Science Foundation of China
  • Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
  • North Carolina State University
  • Office of Naval Research
  • SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
  • Soochow University
  • United States Department of Energy
  • Universal Display Corporation
  • University of Michigan

Tags

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.
  • Systems Analysis and Design