Highly Efficient Tandem Polymer Photovoltaic Cells

Abstract

Polymer tandem solar cells with a PCE of 5.8% are demonstrated by employing a p–n junction as an interlayer between the two subcells. The role of the interlayer and several important issues of the tandem structure is addressed including optical optimization, interfacial engineering, and accurate efficiency characterization (see image). It is revealed that the interlayer acts as a metal/semiconductor contact as opposed to a traditional tunnel junction in inorganic tandem cells.

Understanding the Light Soaking Effects in Inverted Organic Solar Cells Functionalized with Conjugated Macroelectrolyte Electron‐Collecting Interlayers

“…A common phenomenon in typical i‐PSCs incorporating MOs buffer layers (e.g., TiO x and ZnO), is the so‐called “light‐soaking (LS)” effect, which corresponds to an improvement of the device characteristics after the exposure of the device to light, especially to high‐energy UV photons 26, 27, 28, 29. Similar results have been documented when CPE‐based EC interlayers poly[(9,9‐bis(3′‐( N,N ‐dimethylamino)propyl)‐2,7‐fluorene)‐alt‐2,7‐(9,9‐dioctylfluorene)] (PFN) and poly[3‐(6‐( N ‐methylimidazolium)hexyl)‐2,5‐thiophene]bromide (P3lmHT) were used 30, 31.…”

Operational electrochemical stability of thiophene-thiazole copolymers probed by resonant Raman spectroscopy

“…[3][4][5] Poly(3-hexyl)thiophene (P3HT) is one of the most widely studied polymer materials, and remains important for fundamental studies in the field of organic photovoltaics and in tandem solar cells. [6][7][8][9] Stability/degradation of P3HT has been investigated extensively and its consequences are welldocumented, yet the mechanism is still under debate. [10][11][12][13] In general, exposure to light, heat, or oxygen can destroy the a) Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.…”

Efficient Inverted Tandem Polymer Solar Cells with a Solution‐Processed Recombination Layer

“…[4][5][6][7][8][9] Most tandem cells reported so far, have the traditional polarity confi guration, that is, with a transparent hole collecting contact and an opaque metallic electron collecting contact. However, inverted confi gurations with a metallic hole-collecting contact and transparent electron-collecting contact [ 10 , 11 ] may have an advantage with respect to printability and stability due to the relative environmental stability of the electron transport layer and hole-collecting contact.…”