Design and Performance Analysis of Tandem Organic Solar Cells: Effect of Cell Parameter

Abstract

An organic solar cell (OSC), competitive with traditional one (Si-based), draws attention to future renewable energy sources due to its low-cost and continually rising efficiency. The tandem or multijunction structure undoubtedly offers an efficient way to boost the performance of OSCs. This work has explored the optical modeling of different organic photoactive materials to identify the potential materials for efficient tandem structure. The performance of double, triple, and quadruple junction tandem OSCs with suitable bandgaps has been analyzed with photoactive materials. The absorption efficiency enhances considerably using the thickness optimization of each subcell in tandem structures. Current matching in all subcells, an essential factor for efficient device operation, is taken into account while optimizing tandem structures. The quadruple design can achieve better photovoltaic performance than double or triple junction devices. The efficiency predicted from our proposed quadruple structure is ~15.45%, with a short-circuit current density, JSC of ~9 mA/cm 2 and an open-circuit voltage, VOC of ~2.64 V. These results are one of the high-performance in terms of organic photovoltaic (OPV). Therefore, the above findings indicate that OSCs are very potential for future photovoltaic applications.

Stepped metal gratings as an efficient way to design a broadband absorption efficiency and overcome recombination degradation in an organic solar cell

“…The wavelength-dependent complex optical constants of silver and active material are taken from [14,41,42]. The highest occupied (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular (LUMO) orbital and energy levels of PTB7 are −5.15 eV and −3.31 eV (with an energy band gap of 1.84 eV) [14,43]. Indium-tin oxide (ITO) and PEDOT:PSS is used for the anode layer and hole transport layer, respectively.…”

RAINBOW Organic Solar Cells: Implementing Spectral Splitting in Lateral Multi‐Junction Architectures

“…[34][35][36][37] On the other hand, the lateral distribution of each sub-cell allows for an easy implementation of electrically independent contacts, eliminating the need for current or voltage matching on a device level. [38,39] Finally, a RAINBOW cell uses the same amount of material for electrodes, active layer, transport layers, and substrate than a single junction cell, without significantly complicating production (see below), thus the sustainability and cost of this architecture will be competitive, provided that the dispersive element can be manufactured easily, sustainably, and cheaply.…”