Polymers in High-Efficiency Solar Cells: The Latest Reports

Abstract

Third-generation solar cells, including dye-sensitized solar cells, bulk-heterojunction solar cells, and perovskite solar cells, are being intensively researched to obtain high efficiencies in converting solar energy into electricity. However, it is also important to note their stability over time and the devices’ thermal or operating temperature range. Today’s widely used polymeric materials are also used at various stages of the preparation of the complete device—it is worth mentioning that in dye-sensitized solar cells, suitable polymers can be used as flexible substrates counter-electrodes, gel electrolytes, and even dyes. In the case of bulk-heterojunction solar cells, they are used primarily as donor materials; however, there are reports in the literature of their use as acceptors. In perovskite devices, they are used as additives to improve the morphology of the perovskite, mainly as hole transport materials and also as additives to electron transport layers. Polymers, thanks to their numerous advantages, such as the possibility of practically any modification of their chemical structure and thus their physical and chemical properties, are increasingly used in devices that convert solar radiation into electrical energy, which is presented in this paper.

Efficiency enhancement of dye-sensitized solar cell with PVdF-HFP:MPII:NaI quasi-solid-state electrolyte

“…The increase in efficiency is due to the increment of both Jsc and Voc from 12.76 to 14.80 mAcm -2 and 0.67 to 0.72 V, respectively. GuSCN accumulates on the TiO2 surface and passivates the TiO2 surface from recombination [22]. This leads to a better electron injection rate from the dye and, thus an increase in efficiency [23,24].…”

Device Modeling of Efficient PBDB-T:PZT-Based All-Polymer Solar Cell: Role of Band Alignment

“…Currently, the third generation of SCs, including dye-sensitized, perovskite, and bulk-heterojunction SCs, is the most broadly explored and rapidly advanced. In this regard, polymer SCs have enticed substantial interest in recent years, thanks to their lower processing costs, in addition to a manageable process flexibility and being lightweight [ 9 ]. Besides, the thicknesses of the films utilized in polymer SCs are reduced because of their high material absorption coefficient [ 10 ].…”

Ultrafast Excited State Dynamics of a Fluorene Derivative Conjugated Polymer

“…Conjugated polymers form a class of materials that have potential applications in various optoelectronic and electro-optical devices, such as solar cells, organic light-emitting diodes, field effect transistors, sensors, etc. − These organic semiconductors have advantages compared to their inorganic counterparts, such as the possibility of building devices on flexible substrates, ease of film production over large areas, abundance of available materials, and processing at room temperature . The possibility of using simple techniques for deposition of polymeric solutions directly on the substrate is another significant advantage …”