Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Organic Solar Cells

Rahul Dewan
Organic Electronics Course Presentation International University Bremen

4th May 2006

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Outline

Introduction Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells Physics of Organic Solar Cells Structure Working principle Research Prospects Comparison Improving efciency Reference

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

History of Solar Cell

Started with French scientist Edmond Becquerels photoelectric experiments in 1839. First solar cell using junctions was built by an American, Charles Fritts in 1883. (It was formed using coated selenium and gold, as a result, efciency of only 1%) Albert Einstein publishes his paper on the photoelectric effect in 1905 for which he later receives the nobel prize. Energy efcient silicon solar cell nally built in 1941 by Russell Ohl. In the USA, Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson develop the silicon photovolatic(PV) cell at Bell Labs in 1954. It was the rst solar cell capable of converting enough of the suns into power to run everyday electrical equipments.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

History of Solar Cell

Started with French scientist Edmond Becquerels photoelectric experiments in 1839. First solar cell using junctions was built by an American, Charles Fritts in 1883. (It was formed using coated selenium and gold, as a result, efciency of only 1%) Albert Einstein publishes his paper on the photoelectric effect in 1905 for which he later receives the nobel prize. Energy efcient silicon solar cell nally built in 1941 by Russell Ohl. In the USA, Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson develop the silicon photovolatic(PV) cell at Bell Labs in 1954. It was the rst solar cell capable of converting enough of the suns into power to run everyday electrical equipments.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

History of Solar Cell

Started with French scientist Edmond Becquerels photoelectric experiments in 1839. First solar cell using junctions was built by an American, Charles Fritts in 1883. (It was formed using coated selenium and gold, as a result, efciency of only 1%) Albert Einstein publishes his paper on the photoelectric effect in 1905 for which he later receives the nobel prize. Energy efcient silicon solar cell nally built in 1941 by Russell Ohl. In the USA, Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson develop the silicon photovolatic(PV) cell at Bell Labs in 1954. It was the rst solar cell capable of converting enough of the suns into power to run everyday electrical equipments.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

History of Solar Cell

Started with French scientist Edmond Becquerels photoelectric experiments in 1839. First solar cell using junctions was built by an American, Charles Fritts in 1883. (It was formed using coated selenium and gold, as a result, efciency of only 1%) Albert Einstein publishes his paper on the photoelectric effect in 1905 for which he later receives the nobel prize. Energy efcient silicon solar cell nally built in 1941 by Russell Ohl. In the USA, Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson develop the silicon photovolatic(PV) cell at Bell Labs in 1954. It was the rst solar cell capable of converting enough of the suns into power to run everyday electrical equipments.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

History of Solar Cell

Started with French scientist Edmond Becquerels photoelectric experiments in 1839. First solar cell using junctions was built by an American, Charles Fritts in 1883. (It was formed using coated selenium and gold, as a result, efciency of only 1%) Albert Einstein publishes his paper on the photoelectric effect in 1905 for which he later receives the nobel prize. Energy efcient silicon solar cell nally built in 1941 by Russell Ohl. In the USA, Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson develop the silicon photovolatic(PV) cell at Bell Labs in 1954. It was the rst solar cell capable of converting enough of the suns into power to run everyday electrical equipments.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Schematics of p-n junction Solar Cell

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Operation of p-n junction Solar Cell

The I-V characteristic of such a device is given by I = Is eqV /kT 1 IL

(1)

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Operation of p-n junction Solar Cell

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Equations related to Solar Cell

From equation (1), when I = 0, we obtain the open circuit voltage, VOC kT I kT I VOC = ln L + 1 ln L = q IS q IS The maximum output power Pm is, qVm kT kT Pm = Im Vm IL VOC ln 1 + = q kT q Fill factor FF is given by, FF = And, the power conversion efciency = FF .IL VOC Pin (5) I m Vm IL VOC (4) (3)

(2)

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Why Organic Solar Cells ?

The discovery of metal-like electrical conductivity of polyacetylene in 1976 by Shirakawa with Heeger and MacDiarmid opened the eld of research of polymers. Avdantages of organic solar cells ! Relatively cheap in production and purication. Materials can be tailored for the demand. Can be used on exible substrate. Can be shaped or tinted to suit architectural applications. Disadvantages of solar cells! Do not reach the energy conversion efciency exceeding 24 % in inorganic materials. Limited lifetime/ stability issue.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Why Organic Solar Cells ?

The discovery of metal-like electrical conductivity of polyacetylene in 1976 by Shirakawa with Heeger and MacDiarmid opened the eld of research of polymers. Avdantages of organic solar cells ! Relatively cheap in production and purication. Materials can be tailored for the demand. Can be used on exible substrate. Can be shaped or tinted to suit architectural applications. Disadvantages of solar cells! Do not reach the energy conversion efciency exceeding 24 % in inorganic materials. Limited lifetime/ stability issue.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Why Organic Solar Cells ?

The discovery of metal-like electrical conductivity of polyacetylene in 1976 by Shirakawa with Heeger and MacDiarmid opened the eld of research of polymers. Avdantages of organic solar cells ! Relatively cheap in production and purication. Materials can be tailored for the demand. Can be used on exible substrate. Can be shaped or tinted to suit architectural applications. Disadvantages of solar cells! Do not reach the energy conversion efciency exceeding 24 % in inorganic materials. Limited lifetime/ stability issue.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Why Organic Solar Cells ?

The discovery of metal-like electrical conductivity of polyacetylene in 1976 by Shirakawa with Heeger and MacDiarmid opened the eld of research of polymers. Avdantages of organic solar cells ! Relatively cheap in production and purication. Materials can be tailored for the demand. Can be used on exible substrate. Can be shaped or tinted to suit architectural applications. Disadvantages of solar cells! Do not reach the energy conversion efciency exceeding 24 % in inorganic materials. Limited lifetime/ stability issue.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Why Organic Solar Cells ?

The discovery of metal-like electrical conductivity of polyacetylene in 1976 by Shirakawa with Heeger and MacDiarmid opened the eld of research of polymers. Avdantages of organic solar cells ! Relatively cheap in production and purication. Materials can be tailored for the demand. Can be used on exible substrate. Can be shaped or tinted to suit architectural applications. Disadvantages of solar cells! Do not reach the energy conversion efciency exceeding 24 % in inorganic materials. Limited lifetime/ stability issue.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Why Organic Solar Cells ?

The discovery of metal-like electrical conductivity of polyacetylene in 1976 by Shirakawa with Heeger and MacDiarmid opened the eld of research of polymers. Avdantages of organic solar cells ! Relatively cheap in production and purication. Materials can be tailored for the demand. Can be used on exible substrate. Can be shaped or tinted to suit architectural applications. Disadvantages of solar cells! Do not reach the energy conversion efciency exceeding 24 % in inorganic materials. Limited lifetime/ stability issue.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Why Organic Solar Cells ?

The discovery of metal-like electrical conductivity of polyacetylene in 1976 by Shirakawa with Heeger and MacDiarmid opened the eld of research of polymers. Avdantages of organic solar cells ! Relatively cheap in production and purication. Materials can be tailored for the demand. Can be used on exible substrate. Can be shaped or tinted to suit architectural applications. Disadvantages of solar cells! Do not reach the energy conversion efciency exceeding 24 % in inorganic materials. Limited lifetime/ stability issue.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Why Organic Solar Cells ?

The discovery of metal-like electrical conductivity of polyacetylene in 1976 by Shirakawa with Heeger and MacDiarmid opened the eld of research of polymers. Avdantages of organic solar cells ! Relatively cheap in production and purication. Materials can be tailored for the demand. Can be used on exible substrate. Can be shaped or tinted to suit architectural applications. Disadvantages of solar cells! Do not reach the energy conversion efciency exceeding 24 % in inorganic materials. Limited lifetime/ stability issue.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Solar Cells Organic Solar Cells

Why Organic Solar Cells ?

The discovery of metal-like electrical conductivity of polyacetylene in 1976 by Shirakawa with Heeger and MacDiarmid opened the eld of research of polymers. Avdantages of organic solar cells ! Relatively cheap in production and purication. Materials can be tailored for the demand. Can be used on exible substrate. Can be shaped or tinted to suit architectural applications. Disadvantages of solar cells! Do not reach the energy conversion efciency exceeding 24 % in inorganic materials. Limited lifetime/ stability issue.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

Types of organic solar cells

There are 3 types of organic solar cells.

1 2 3

Dye sentisized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells. Molecular organic solar cells. Polymer solar cells.[Meissner, 1999]
Attracting great interest as photovolatic materials. Breakthrough came with the introduction of the bulk heterojunction.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

Types of organic solar cells

There are 3 types of organic solar cells.

1 2 3

Dye sentisized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells. Molecular organic solar cells. Polymer solar cells.[Meissner, 1999]
Attracting great interest as photovolatic materials. Breakthrough came with the introduction of the bulk heterojunction.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

Types of organic solar cells

There are 3 types of organic solar cells.

1 2 3

Dye sentisized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells. Molecular organic solar cells. Polymer solar cells.[Meissner, 1999]
Attracting great interest as photovolatic materials. Breakthrough came with the introduction of the bulk heterojunction.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

Types of organic solar cells

There are 3 types of organic solar cells.

1 2 3

Dye sentisized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells. Molecular organic solar cells. Polymer solar cells.[Meissner, 1999]
Attracting great interest as photovolatic materials. Breakthrough came with the introduction of the bulk heterojunction.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

Device structure

ITO PEDOT:PSS MMDO-PPV PCBM

Indium Tin Oxide Poly (ethylene-dioxythiophene) doped with polystyrenesulphonic acid (poly-(2-methyloxy, 5-(3,7 - dimethyloctyloxy)) para phenylene-vinylene) ([6,6]-Phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

Materials used

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

From light into electricity

In three essential steps, light energy is transformed into electricity by organic solar cells.
1 2 3

Absorption of light Charge carrier generation Transport of the opposite charges to the opposite contacts.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

From light into electricity

In three essential steps, light energy is transformed into electricity by organic solar cells.
1 2 3

Absorption of light Charge carrier generation Transport of the opposite charges to the opposite contacts.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

From light into electricity

In three essential steps, light energy is transformed into electricity by organic solar cells.
1 2 3

Absorption of light Charge carrier generation Transport of the opposite charges to the opposite contacts.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

From light into electricity

In three essential steps, light energy is transformed into electricity by organic solar cells.
1 2 3

Absorption of light Charge carrier generation Transport of the opposite charges to the opposite contacts.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Structure Working principle

Metal-insulator-metal(MIM) model

For four situations, a semiconductor, sandwiched between two metal electrodes with different work functions, is depicted above.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Comparison Improving efciency

Performance evaluation

Type of cell Crystalline silicon Multicystalline silicon Amorphous silicon Organic solar cells

Efciency(%) 24 18 13 2-3

Research needs Higher production yields, lowering of cost and energy content Lower manufacturing cost and complexity Lower production costs, increase production volume and stability Improve stability and efciency

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Comparison Improving efciency

Outlook & Strategies

Device performance can be optimized by optimization of the device physics. Optimize the choice of metallic electrodes. Optimize the choice of donor-acceptor pair. The bandgap of the semiconductor should be chosen for efcient harvesting of the solar spectrum. Optimize the network morphology of the phase-separated composite material for enhanced transport and carrier generation.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Comparison Improving efciency

Outlook & Strategies

Device performance can be optimized by optimization of the device physics. Optimize the choice of metallic electrodes. Optimize the choice of donor-acceptor pair. The bandgap of the semiconductor should be chosen for efcient harvesting of the solar spectrum. Optimize the network morphology of the phase-separated composite material for enhanced transport and carrier generation.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

Comparison Improving efciency

Outlook & Strategies

Device performance can be optimized by optimization of the device physics. Optimize the choice of metallic electrodes. Optimize the choice of donor-acceptor pair. The bandgap of the semiconductor should be chosen for efcient harvesting of the solar spectrum. Optimize the network morphology of the phase-separated composite material for enhanced transport and carrier generation.

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells

Introduction Physics of Organic Solar Cells Research Prospects Reference

For Further Reading

M. Gratzel Photoelectrochemical cells. Nature, Vol 414, 15 November 2001. C.J. Brabec et al. Plastic Solar Cells. Advanced Functional Materials, 2001, 11, No 1. February C. Winder Sentisization of Low Bandgap Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells. S.M. Sze Semiconductor Devices, Physics and Technology. S. Dimitrijev Understanding Semiconductor Devices. D. Meissner. Photon 2, 34-37

Rahul Dewan

Organic Solar Cells