Optimization of an inverted organic solar cell

Zhao, Dewei; Tan, Swee Tiam; Ke, Lin; Liu, P.; Kyaw, Aung Ko Ko; Sun, Xiao Wei; Lo, Guo‐Qiang; Kwong, Dim‐Lee

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2010.02.010

Cited by 118 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…For example, the PEDOT:PSS layers are demonstrated to reduce the diffusion of oxygen to the active layer effectively, but it degrades the performance of the device due to chemical reaction with metal electrode. Some reports have shown that MoO 3 can be used as the hole selective layer, so to deposite a MoO 3 layer before anode metal may improve the stability of the interface [14][15][16] .The ZnO-based inverted solar cells are fabricated, and MoO 3 lavers with different thicknesses deposited to achieve the optimum performance of the devices. The air stability of the inverted devices are compared with that of the conventional devices.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An air-stable inverted photovoltaic device using ZnO as the electron selective layer and MoO3 as the blocking layer

Song

Qin

Ding

et al. 2011

Optoelectron. Lett.

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An air-stable photovoltaic device based on znic oxide nanoparticles (ZNP) in an inverted structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/ZnO/poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT): [6,6]-phenyl C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM)/MoO 3 /Ag is studied. We find that the optimum thickness of the MoO 3 layer is 2 nm. When the MoO 3 blocking layer is introduced, the fill factor of the devices is increased from 29% to 40%, the power conversion efficiency is directly promoted from 0.35% to 1.27%.The stability under ambient conditions of this inverted structure device much is better due to the improved stability at the polymer/Ag interface. The enhancement is attributed to the high carriers mobility and suitable band gap of MoO 3 layer.Organic solar cells (OSCs) have been deeply investigated recently due to their commercial applications and simple methods of preparation by coating and printing methods [1, 2] , The conventional solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) with power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4%-5% have been reported [3][4][5] . But without encapsulation, these devices always exhibit poor lifetimes, because acidic polymer layer which included ploy (3,4-ethlendioxythiophene):poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) can react with metal electrode and alter its properties. In addition, the cathode with low work function is oxidized easily by oxygen and moisture in air [6][7][8] .According to the problems, the inverted organic solar cells (inverted-OSCs), in which the positions of the anode and cathode are reversed, have been demonstrated [9,10] . The devices can be used in air stably, and use the high work function metal as electrode and the metal oxide (TiO 2 , ZnO) as the electron acceptors at the ITO side. The inverted-OSCs have many advantages, such as higher stability and more convenient preparation. In addition, the higher concentration of acceptors balances the rate of diffusion of holes and electrons, which can give a promising route to improve the efficiency [9][10][11] .Recently, zinc oxide (ZnO) as the electron selective or hole blocking layer has been introduced into OSC devices because of its high electron mobility and facile synthesis. The morphology of ZnO has also been modified from a thin film to nano-ridges by controlling the annealing process [12,13] .However, the performance of inverted-OSCs is still restricted by architecture. For example, the PEDOT:PSS layers are demonstrated to reduce the diffusion of oxygen to the active layer effectively, but it degrades the performance of the device due to chemical reaction with metal electrode. Some reports have shown that MoO 3 can be used as the hole selective layer, so to deposite a MoO 3 layer before anode metal may improve the stability of the interface [14][15][16] .The ZnO-based inverted solar cells are fabricated, and MoO 3 lavers with different thicknesses deposited to achieve the optimum performance of the devices. The air stability of the inverted devices are compared with that of the conventi...

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

An air-stable inverted photovoltaic device using ZnO as the electron selective layer and MoO3 as the blocking layer

Song

Qin

Ding

et al. 2011

Optoelectron. Lett.

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“…There has been significant improvement in the PCE of these structures by using bulk heterojunction (BHJ) blend compared to bilayer donor/acceptor design due to the large interfacial area between the donor and acceptor of BHJ [20]. Recently, researchers have made several efforts at optimizing the nanomorphology of OPV [21][22][23][24][25]. In general, the increase in the optical efficiency is accompanied by increase in optical thickness, which increases recombination when the distance of the possible electron-hole creation zone is farther away from the p-n junction than collection length [5].…”

Section: Description Of the Physical Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extremely Efficient Design of Organic Thin Film Solar Cells via Learning-Based Optimization

Kaya

Hajimirza

2017

Energies

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Design of efficient thin film photovoltaic (PV) cells require optical power absorption to be computed inside a nano-scale structure of photovoltaics, dielectric and plasmonic materials. Calculating power absorption requires Maxwell's electromagnetic equations which are solved using numerical methods, such as finite difference time domain (FDTD). The computational cost of thin film PV cell design and optimization is therefore cumbersome, due to successive FDTD simulations. This cost can be reduced using a surrogate-based optimization procedure. In this study, we deploy neural networks (NNs) to model optical absorption in organic PV structures. We use the corresponding surrogate-based optimization procedure to maximize light trapping inside thin film organic cells infused with metallic particles. Metallic particles are known to induce plasmonic effects at the metal-semiconductor interface, thus increasing absorption. However, a rigorous design procedure is required to achieve the best performance within known design guidelines. As a result of using NNs to model thin film solar absorption, the required time to complete optimization is decreased by more than five times. The obtained NN model is found to be very reliable. The optimization procedure results in absorption enhancement greater than 200%. Furthermore, we demonstrate that once a reliable surrogate model such as the developed NN is available, it can be used for alternative analyses on the proposed design, such as uncertainty analysis (e.g., fabrication error).

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“…The MoO 3 HTL reduces the charge recombination by suppressing the exciton quenching as well as the resistance at the photoactive layer/anode interface [85]. Besides, MoO 3 HTL also serves as an optical spacer for improving light absorption, thereby enhancing the photocurrent [86][87][88]. Molybdenum oxide is widely used as hole injection material and was considered as a p-type semiconductor initially.…”

Section: Metal Oxide Semiconductors (Mos) As Anode Interfacial Layersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal oxide semiconducting interfacial layers for photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications

Elumalai

Chellappan

Jose

et al. 2015

Mater Renew Sustain Energy

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The present review rationalizes the significance of the metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) interfaces in the field of photovoltaics and photocatalysis. This perspective considers the role of interface science in energy harvesting using organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These interfaces include large surface area junctions between photoelectrodes and dyes, the interlayer grain boundaries within the photoanodes, and the interfaces between photoactive layers and the top and bottom contacts. Controlling the collection and minimizing the trapping of charge carriers at these boundaries is crucial to overall power conversion efficiency of solar cells. Similarly, MOS photocatalysts exhibit strong variations in their photocatalytic activities as a function of band structure and surface states. Here, the MOS interface plays a vital role in the generation of OH radicals, which forms the basis of the photocatalytic processes. The physical chemistry and materials science of these MOS interfaces and their influence on device performance are also discussed.

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Optimization of an inverted organic solar cell

Cited by 118 publications

References 42 publications

An air-stable inverted photovoltaic device using ZnO as the electron selective layer and MoO3 as the blocking layer

An air-stable inverted photovoltaic device using ZnO as the electron selective layer and MoO3 as the blocking layer

Extremely Efficient Design of Organic Thin Film Solar Cells via Learning-Based Optimization

Metal oxide semiconducting interfacial layers for photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications

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