Ultrathin and lightweight organic solar cells with high flexibility

Abstract

Application-specific requirements for future lighting, displays and photovoltaics will include large-area, low-weight and mechanical resilience for dual-purpose uses such as electronic skin, textiles and surface conforming foils. Here we demonstrate polymer-based photovoltaic devices on plastic foil substrates less than 2 μm thick, with equal power conversion efficiency to their glass-based counterparts. They can reversibly withstand extreme mechanical deformation and have unprecedented solar cell-specific weight. Instead of a single bend, we form a random network of folds within the device area. The processing methods are standard, so the same weight and flexibility should be achievable in light emitting diodes, capacitors and transistors to fully realize ultrathin organic electronics. These ultrathin organic solar cells are over ten times thinner, lighter and more flexible than any other solar cell of any technology to date.

Microfluidic Patterning of Metal Structures for Flexible Conductors by In Situ Polymer‐Assisted Electroless Deposition

“…Flexible electronics, electronics that can function under mechanical deformation, is in high demand toward a wide variety of new applications, including wearable electronics, flexible displays, electronic skins, energy storage, medical implants, sensors, and biological actuators 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. To realize the function of these electronic devices, highly conductive electrodes, contacts, and interconnects with large mechanical flexibility (e.g., bending, folding, stretching, compressing, and twisting) are considered as one of the most important components.…”

Organic π-type thermoelectric module supported by photolithographic mold: a working hypothesis of sticky thermoelectric materials

“…In addition to the above disadvantage on contact resistance, ECAs do not have enough mechanical strength to hold the π-type TE module structure especially when the module is bent as a flexible module. Comparing the thickness of organic active layer ~100 nm in the other organic devices, such as organic light diodes and organic solar cells [20,21], we can expect that the TE leg thickness over 20 µm causes huge mechanical stress on the joints (Figure 10(b)). Furthermore, ECAs are generally expensive though this non-vacuum process should be economic.…”

Recent Progress in Electronic Skin

“…An alternative and ultimate approach used to settle the power consumption issues in e‐skin is the fabrication of self‐powered sensors 76. Therefore, studies on flexible or stretchable solar cells,77 piezoelectric nanogenerators,78 and triboelectric generators or sensors79 have attracted increasing attention in recent years. Among these research topics, the developments in triboelectric generator/sensor are dramatically growing due to their facile fabrication, self‐powered ability, low cost, and diverse applications 80…”