Guide
Recently, the research team of Ulsan National University of Science and Technology in South Korea successfully proposed a new method to solve the problems associated with the thickness of optically active layers in organic solar cells. This new method will promote process design and further advance the organic solar cell. commercialize.
background
Solar energy has many advantages such as clean, environmental protection, renewable, easy to access, low cost, etc. It is a new energy source with great development and utilization value, and has been widely developed and utilized. However, solar cells are a typical type. Solar energy utilization, which converts solar energy into electricity and stores it.
Today, the dominant solar cells are still made of inorganic semiconductors. Silicon-based solar cells of monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous silicon are the most widely used. However, traditional silicon-based inorganic solar cells It has the disadvantages of high manufacturing cost, high energy consumption, high pollution, complicated process, etc. In addition, traditional inorganic solar cells are bulky, rigid, brittle, inconvenient to transport and flexible to install and use.
However, emerging organic solar cells (OSCs) have lower manufacturing costs, simpler manufacturing processes, and are lightweight, flexible, ultra-thin, and transparent, making them easy to transport and flexible to deploy.
Although organic solar cells have many advantages, their 'photoelectric conversion efficiency' has not been comparable to inorganic solar cells. However, in recent years, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of organic solar cells has increased to more than 10%, achieving commercial applications. The level. However, an increase in the thickness of the optically active layer leads to a decrease in the efficiency of photoelectric conversion, and thus requires a more complicated manufacturing process.
Innovation
Recently, Changduk Yang, a professor at the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at the National University of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea, and his research team successfully proposed a new method to solve the problems associated with the thickness of optically active layers in organic solar cells.
In this study, the research team successfully used a non-fullerene receptor in the optically active layer to achieve 12.01% photoelectric conversion efficiency in organic solar cells. Further, even the maximum measured thickness is 300. In the nanometer range, this new optically active layer retains its initial photoelectric conversion efficiency. This research will promote process design and further advance the commercialization of organic solar cells.
Professor Yang said: 'The optically active layer in existing organic solar cells is very thin (100 nm), so it is impossible to process it through a large-area printing process. Even if the maximum measured thickness is in the range of 300 nm, this new optics The active layer still retains its initial efficiency. '
technology
Solar cells use optically active layers to convert solar energy into electrical energy. When these active layers are exposed to sunlight, excited electrons escape from the atoms and generate free electrons and holes in the semiconductor, while electrons and holes can move. Providing electrical energy. The transfer of electrons is called 'Channel I' and the motion of holes is called 'Channel II'
Sang Myeon Lee, a graduate student at the UNIST School of Chemical Engineering and Energy, said: 'Because of the low light absorption rate of the active thin layer, the Fullerene solar cell uses only Channel I. However, the new solar cell utilizes both Channel I and Channel II, thus achieving an efficiency of up to 12.01%.'
value
In this study, Professor Yang has solved the problems associated with the thickness of the optically active layer in organic solar cells, which is a step closer to achieving large-area printing processes.
Professor Yang said: 'This study highlights the importance of considering and optimizing the two factors of 'charge separation/transport' and 'phase size' to achieve high performance non-fullerene polymer solar cells (NF) -PSCs). In the future, we will contribute to the production and commercialization of high-efficiency organic solar cells.'
Professor Yang also said: 'Our research demonstrates a new way to synthesize non-fullerene optically active materials. We hope to make further contributions to the production and commercialization of efficient organic solar cells.'
