Organic Photovoltaic Cells: Manufacturing and Design Improvements
Background
Photovoltaic cells having active layers based on organic polymers are of interest as alternative sources of renewable electrical energy to the typical silicon-based cell. Such cells offer advantages such as low cost of fabrication in a variety of sizes, low weight and flexibility. This technology enables efficient plastic solar cells which would have major positive impacts on the world's energy needs. Although encouraging progress has been made in recent years with reported power conversion efficiencies of 3-4%, this efficiency is not sufficient to meet realistic specifications for commercialization. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency to commercialize the technology and help supply the world’s energy needs.
Description
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have fabricated high efficiency polymer photovoltaic cells using an optical spacer between the active layer and the electron-collecting electrode, a passivating layer, a tandem architecture, and processing additives. Such cells exhibit approximately 50% enhancement in power conversion efficiency due to the optical spacer and enhanced lifetime due to the protective passivating layer. In addition, the tandem architecture in which two photovoltaic cells are connected in series and the processing additives in the bulk material both serve to further increase efficiency.
Advantages
• Lightweight Due to Polymer Structure
• Low Fabrication Cost
• About 50% Increase in Power Conversion Efficiency Due to Optical Spacer
• Enhanced Lifetime of Solar Cells Using a Passivating Layer
• Increased Power Output and Efficiency with Tandem Architecture
• Further Enhanced Efficiency Using Processing Additives
Applications
• Renewable and Easily Portable Energy
• Emergency Power Generators
• Portable Battery Chargers
• Electric Car Chargers
• Office and Residential Power
Patent Information
UC Case No. 2005-472: “Architecture for High Efficiency Photovoltaic Cells Using an Optical Spacer” – High efficiency polymer photovoltaic cells utilizing an optical spacer produce approximately 50% enhancement in power conversion efficiency. U.S. Patent Application Nos. 11/347,111; 11/650,317
UC Case No. 2006-342: “Passivating Layer for Flexible Electronic Devices” – Polymer photovoltaic cells equipped with a passivating layer experience enhanced lifetimes. U.S. Patent Application No. 11/650,574
UC Case No. 2007-075: “Photovoltaic Devices in Tandem Architecture” – A tandem photovoltaic device includes a first cell and a second cell arranged in series, increasing power output and efficiency. U.S. Patent Application No. 11/766,768
UC Case No. 2008-199: “Processing Additives for Improved Efficiency from Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells” – Processing additives introduced to control the morphology of bulk heterojunction materials for use in solar cells serve to increase efficiency. U.S. Patent Application No. 12/257,069
Inventors
Alan J. Heeger
Kwanghee Lee
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