Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Enhanced light utilization in semitransparent organic solar cells based on a nonfullerene acceptor of IEICO-4F

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although high efficiencies have been demonstrated in organic solar cells (OSCs), the development of semitransparent devices is still lagging behind due to the difficulty in making a balance between the active layer absorption and device transmittance. To address this challenge, a detailed study of semitransparent OSCs (ST-OSCs) based on the blends of the low bandgap polymer PTB7-Th and ultra-narrow bandgap nonfullerene acceptor IEICO-4F is carried out. Comprehensive optical modeling using the transfer matrix method (TMM) has been performed to assist the design of ST-OSCs and understand the effect of active layer composition and distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) on the device performance. By varying the PTB7-Th/IEICO-4F blending ratio from 1:1.5 to 1:3 and incorporating of DBRs, the average visible transmittance (AVT) of the ST-OSCs was dramatically increased by over 26% with a slight decrease in photocurrent (Jmax) less than 5%. This significant improved light utilization can be attributed to the enhanced photon harvesting of NIR range and decreased visible light absorption by increasing the IEICO-4F content, as well as the optimal optical properties in the ST-OSCs with the use of DBRs. Our results can provide a feasible way to optimize the light harvesting and transmittance of the device for achieving high-performance ST-OSCs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. Li, R. Zhu, Y. Yang, Polymer solar cells. Nat. Photonics 6, 153–161 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. W. Cai, X. Gong, Y. Cao, Polymer solar cells: recent development and possible routes for improvement in the performance. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 94, 114–127 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Q. An, X. Ma, J. Gao, F. Zhang, Solvent additive-free ternary polymer solar cells with 16.27% efficiency. Sci. Bull. 64, 504–506 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. K. Li, Y. Wu, Y. Tang, M.-A. Pan, W. Ma, H. Fu, C. Zhan, J. Yao, Ternary blended fullerene-free polymer solar cells with 16.5% efficiency enabled with a higher-LUMO-level acceptor to improve film morphology. Adv. Energy Mater. 9, 1901728 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. M.-A. Pan, T.-K. Lau, Y. Tang, Y.-C. Wu, T. Liu, K. Li, M.-C. Chen, X. Lu, W. Ma, C. Zhan, 16.7%-efficiency ternary blended organic photovoltaic cells with PCBM as the acceptor additive to increase the open-circuit voltage and phase purity. J. Mater. Chem. A 7, 20713–207224 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. T. Yan, W. Song, J. Huang, R. Peng, L. Huang, Z. Ge, 16.67% Rigid and 14.06% Flexible organic solar cells enabled by ternary heterojunction strategy. Adv. Mater. 31, 1902210 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. R. Yu, H. Yao, Y. Cui, L. Hong, C. He, J. Hou, Improved charge transport and reduced nonradiative energy loss enable over 16% efficiency in ternary polymer solar cells. Adv. Mater. 31, 1902302 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. L. Zhan, S. Li, T.-K. Lau, Y. Cui, X. Lu, M. Shi, C.-Z. Li, H. Li, J. Hou, H. Chen, Over 17% efficiency ternary organic solar cells enabled by two non-fullerene acceptors working in an alloy-like model. Energy Environ. Sci. 13, 635–645 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Y. Cui, C. Yang, H. Yao, J. Zhu, Y. Wang, G. Jia, F. Gao, J. Hou, Efficient Semitransparent organic solar cells with tunable color enabled by an ultralow-bandgap nonfullerene acceptor. Adv. Mater. 29, 1703080 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. P. Cheng, H.-C. Wang, Y. Zhu, R. Zheng, T. Li, C.-H. Chen, T. Huang, Y. Zhao, R. Wang, D. Meng, Y. Li, C. Zhu, K.-H. Wei, X. Zhan, Y. Yang, Transparent hole-transporting frameworks: a unique strategy to design high-performance semitransparent organic photovoltaics. Adv. Mater. 32, 2003891 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. V.V. Brus, J. Lee, B.R. Luginbuhl, S.-J. Ko, G.C. Bazan, T.-Q. Nguyen, Solution-processed semitransparent organic photovoltaics: from molecular design to device performance. Adv. Mater. 31, 1900904 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. B.-H. Jiang, H.-E. Lee, J.-H. Lu, T.-H. Tsai, T.-S. Shieh, R.-J. Jeng, C.-P. Chen, High-performance semitransparent organic photovoltaics featuring a surface phase-matched transmission-enhancing Ag/ITO electrode. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 12, 39496–39504 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Y. Xiong, R.E. Booth, T. Kim, L. Ye, Y. Liu, Q. Dong, M. Zhang, F. So, Y. Zhu, A. Amassian, B.T. O’Connor, H. Ade, Novel bimodal silver nanowire network as top electrodes for reproducible and high-efficiency semitransparent organic photovoltaics. Solar Rrl 4, 2000328 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. D.H. Shin, C.W. Jang, H.S. Lee, S.W. Seo, S.-H. Choi, Semitransparent flexible organic solar cells employing doped-graphene layers as anode and cathode electrodes. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 10, 3596–3601 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Z. Hu, J. Wang, Z. Wang, W. Gao, Q. An, M. Zhang, X. Ma, J. Wang, J. Miao, C. Yang, F. Zhang, Semitransparent ternary nonfullerene polymer solar cells exhibiting 9.40% efficiency and 24.6% average visible transmittance. Nano Energy 55, 424–4324 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Y. Li, C. Ji, Y. Qu, X. Huang, S. Hou, C.-Z. Li, L.-S. Liao, L.J. Cuo, S.R. Forrest, Enhanced light utilization in semitransparent organic photovoltaics using an optical outcoupling architecture. Adv. Mater. 31, 1903173 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. L. Zuo, X. Shi, W. Fu, A.K.Y. Jen, Highly efficient semitransparent solar cells with selective absorption and tandem architecture. Adv. Mater. 31, 1901683 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. E.C. Garnett, W. Cai, J.J. Cha, F. Mahmood, S.T. Connor, M.G. Christoforo, Y. Cui, M.D. McGehee, M.L. Brongersma, Self-limited plasmonic welding of silver nanowire junctions. Nat. Mater. 11, 241–249 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. C.-C. Chueh, S.-C. Chien, H.-L. Yip, J.F. Salinas, C.-Z. Li, K.-S. Chen, F.-C. Chen, W.-C. Chen, A.K.Y. Jen, Toward high-performance semi-transparent polymer solar cells: optimization of ultra-thin light absorbing layer and transparent cathode architecture. Adv. Energy Mater. 3, 417–423 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. M. Zhang, X. Guo, W. Ma, H. Ade, J. Hou, A large-bandgap conjugated polymer for versatile photovoltaic applications with high performance. Adv. Mater. 27, 4655–4660 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. J. Min, C. Bronnbauer, Z.-G. Zhang, C. Cui, Y.N. Luponosov, I. Ata, P. Schweizer, T. Przybilla, F. Guo, T. Ameri, K. Forberich, E. Spiecker, P. Baeuerle, S.A. Ponomarenko, Y. Li, C.J. Brabec, Fully solution-processed small molecule semitransparent solar cells: optimization of transparent cathode architecture and four absorbing layers. Adv. Func. Mater. 26, 4543–4550 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. W. Wang, C. Yan, T.-K. Lau, J. Wang, K. Liu, Y. Fan, X. Lu, X. Zhan, Fused hexacyclic nonfullerene acceptor with strong near-infrared absorption for semitransparent organic solar cells with 9.77% efficiency. Adv. Mater. 29, 1701308 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. T. Li, S. Dai, Z. Ke, L. Yang, J. Wang, C. Yan, W. Ma, X. Zhan, Fused tris(thienothiophene)-based electron acceptor with strong near-infrared absorption for high-performance as-cast solar cells. Adv. Mater. 30, 1705969 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. X. Li, R. Xia, K. Yan, J. Ren, H.-L. Yip, C.-Z. Li, H. Chen, Semitransparent organic solar cells with vivid colors. ACS Energy Lett. 5, 3115–3123 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. S. Wang, J. Chen, L. Li, L. Zuo, T.-Y. Qu, H. Ren, Y. Li, A.K.Y. Jen, J.-X. Tang, Narrow bandpass and efficient semitransparent organic solar cells based on bioinspired spectrally selective electrodes. ACS Nano 14, 5998–6006 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. D. Wang, R. Qin, G. Zhou, X. Li, R. Xia, Y. Li, L. Zhan, H. Zhu, X. Lu, H.-L. Yip, H. Chen, C.-Z. Li, High-performance semitransparent organic solar cells with excellent infrared reflection and see-through functions. Adv. Mater. 32, 2001621 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. S. Xiong, L. Hu, L. Hu, L. Sun, F. Qin, X. Liu, M. Fahlman, Y. Zhou, 125% flexible nonfullerene solar cells by passivating the chemical interaction between the active layer and polymer interfacial layer. Adv. Mater. 31, 1806616 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Z. Hu, Z. Wang, F. Zhang, Semitransparent polymer solar cells with 9.06% efficiency and 27.1% average visible transmittance obtained by employing a smart strategy. J. Mater. Chem. A 7, 7025–7032 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. R. Xia, C.J. Brabec, H.-L. Yip, Y. Cao, High-throughput optical screening for efficient semitransparent organic solar cells. Joule 3, 2241–2254 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. X. Ma, Z. Xiao, Q. An, M. Zhang, Z. Hu, J. Wang, L. Ding, F. Zhang, Simultaneously improved efficiency and average visible transmittance of semitransparent polymer solar cells with two ultra-narrow bandgap nonfullerene acceptors. J. Mater. Chem. A 6, 21485–21492 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. H. Shi, R. Xia, G. Zhang, H.-L. Yip, Y. Cao, Spectral engineering of semitransparent polymer solar cells for greenhouse applications. Adv. Energy Mater. 9, 1803438 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. P. Peumans, A. Yakimov, S.R. Forrest, Small molecular weight organic thin-film photodetectors and solar cells. J. Appl. Phys. 93, 3693–3723 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Q. Tai, F. Yan, Emerging semitransparent solar cells: materials and device design. Adv. Mater. 29, 1700192 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. R. Betancur, P. Romero-Gomez, A. Martinez-Otero, X. Elias, M. Maymo, J. Martorell, Transparent polymer solar cells employing a layered light-trapping architecture. Nat. Photonics 7, 995–1000 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. R. Betancur, P. Romero-Gomez, A. Martinez-Otero, X. Elias, M. Maymó, J. Martorell, Transparent polymer solar cells employing a layered light-trapping architecture. Nat. Photonics 7, 995–1000 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. S. Guiying, C. Liang, R. Shanpeng, W. Chen, H. Chen, High-performance colorful semitransparent polymer solar cells with ultrathin hybrid-metal electrodes and fine-tuned dielectric mirrors. Adv. Funct. Mater. 27, 1605908 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. W.J. Yu, X. Jia, Y.B. Long, L. Shen, Y. Liu, W.B. Guo, S.P. Ruan, Highly efficient semitransparent polymer solar cells with color rendering index approaching 100 using one-dimensional photonic crystal. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 7, 9920–9928 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was partly supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. LY21F050004), National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No. 61904168, 61705054 and 52072355).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Electronics and Information, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, People’s Republic of China

    Yue Zang, Lingfeng Chen & Jintao Zhou

  2. College of Optical and Electronic Technology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, People’s Republic of China

    Rui Xu & Zugang Liu

Authors
  1. Yue Zang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lingfeng Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jintao Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rui Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zugang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yue Zang.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zang, Y., Chen, L., Zhou, J. et al. Enhanced light utilization in semitransparent organic solar cells based on a nonfullerene acceptor of IEICO-4F. Appl. Phys. A 127, 889 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-021-05025-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-021-05025-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation