Design of high efficiency organic solar cell with light trapping

doi:10.1364/OE.20.00A606

Design of high efficiency organic solar cell with light trapping

L. Song and A. Uddin »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue S5, pp. A606-A621 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.00A606

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Abstract

We have designed a high efficiency organic solar cell with light trapping structure on transference cylindrical substrate. An electrical and optical simulation of the light trapping structure has been performed on the basis of finite element and transfer matrix formalism methods. Absorption spectrum, internal quantum efficiency, external quantum efficiency, maximum power output and efficiency of the organic solar cell are simulated and presented in terms of three variables: the height, diameter of the glass substrate and the thickness of the organic active layer. The efficiency of the proposed organic solar cell with light trapping structure is enhanced by a factor of 2 than the similar structure on the flat plain glass substrate. The optimum organic active layer thickness to achieve the highest efficiency is shifted from 65 to 20 nm. Finally, we have investigated the effect of light incident angle on the performance of the proposed cell structure.

OCIS Codes
(040.5350) Detectors : Photovoltaic
(220.0220) Optical design and fabrication : Optical design and fabrication

ToC Category:
Photovoltaics

History
Original Manuscript: March 26, 2012
Revised Manuscript: June 27, 2012
Manuscript Accepted: June 30, 2012
Published: July 10, 2012

Citation
L. Song and A. Uddin, "Design of high efficiency organic solar cell with light trapping," Opt. Express 20, A606-A621 (2012)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-20-S5-A606

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References

M. Campoy-Quiles, T. Ferenczi, T. Agostinelli, P. G. Etchegoin, Y. Kim, T. D. Anthopoulos, P. N. Stavrinou, D. D. C. Bradley, and J. Nelson, “Morphology evolution via self-organization and lateral and vertical diffusion in polymer:fullerene solar cell blends,” Nat. Mater.7(2), 158–164 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Konarka, “Single junction solar cell by Konarka with an efficiency of 8.3% on an area of 1 cm2”.
G. Dennler, M. C. Scharber, and C. J. Brabec, “Polymer-fullerene bulk-heterojunction solar cells,” Adv. Mater. (Deerfield Beach Fla.)21(13), 1323–1338 (2009). [CrossRef]
W. Ma, C. Yang, X. Gong, K. Lee, and A. J. Heeger, “Thermally stable, efficient polymer solar cells with nanoscale control of the interpenetrating network morphology,” Adv. Funct. Mater.15(10), 1617–1622 (2005). [CrossRef]
M. S. Ryu, H. J. Cha, and J. Jang, “Effects of thermal annealing of polymer:fullerene photovoltaic solar cells for high efficiency,” Curr. Appl. Phys.10(2), S206–S209 (2010). [CrossRef]
A. J. Moulé and K. Meerholz, “Controlling morphology in polymer–fullerene mixtures,” Adv. Mater. (Deerfield Beach Fla.)20(2), 240–245 (2008). [CrossRef]
T. Kirchartz, K. Taretto, and U. Rau, “Efficiency limits of organic bulk heterojunction solar cells,” J. Phys. Chem. C113(41), 17958–17966 (2009). [CrossRef]
A. C. Mayer, S. R. Scully, B. E. Hardin, M. W. Rowell, and M. D. McGehee, “Polymer-based solar cells,” Mater. Today10(11), 28–33 (2007). [CrossRef]
C. Heine and R. H. Morf, “Submicrometer gratings for solar energy applications,” Appl. Opt.34(14), 2476–2482 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
J. E. Cotter, “Optical intensity of light in layers of silicon with rear diffuse reflectors,” J. Appl. Phys.84(1), 81–98 (1998). [CrossRef]
Y. Yi, L. Zeng, C. Hong, J. Liu, N. Feng, X. Duan, L. C. Kimerling, and B. A. Alamariu, “Efficiency enhancement in Si solar cells by textured photonic crystal back reflector,” Appl. Phys. Lett.89, 111111 (2006).
H. Hoppe, M. Niggemann, C. Winder, J. Kraut, R. Hiesgen, A. Hinsch, D. Meissner, and N. S. Sariciftci, “Nanoscale morphology of conjugated polymer/fullerene-based bulk- heterojunction solar cells,” Adv. Funct. Mater.14(10), 1005–1011 (2004). [CrossRef]
S. D. Zilio, K. Tvingstedt, O. Inganäs, and M. Tormen, “Fabrication of a light trapping system for organic solar cells,” Microelectron. Eng.86(4-6), 1150–1154 (2009). [CrossRef]
H. Huang, Y. Li, M. Wang, W. Nie, W. Zhou, E. D. Peterson, J. Liu, G. Fang, and D. L. Carroll, “Photovoltaic–thermal solar energy collectors based on optical tubes,” Sol. Energy85(3), 450–454 (2011). [CrossRef]
Y. Li, W. Nie, J. Liu, A. Partridge, and D. L. Carroll, “The optics of organic photovoltaics: fiber-based devices,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.16(6), 1827–1837 (2010). [CrossRef]
Y. Li, E. D. Peterson, H. Huang, M. Wang, D. Xue, W. Nie, W. Zhou, and D.L. Carroll, “Tube-based geometries for organic photovoltaics,” Appl. Phys. Lett.96, 243503 (2010).
M. R. Lee, R. D. Eckert, K. Forberich, G. Dennler, C. J. Brabec, and R. A. Gaudiana, “Solar power wires based on organic photovoltaic materials,” Science324(5924), 232–235 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
J. Liu, M. A. G. Namboothiry, and D. L. Carroll, “Optical geometries for fiber-based organic photovoltaics,” Appl. Phys. Lett.90(13), 133515 (2007). [CrossRef]
L. A. A. Pettersson, L. S. Roman, and O. Inganäs, “Modeling photocurrent action spectra of photovoltaic devices based on organic thin films,” J. Appl. Phys.86(1), 487–496 (1999). [CrossRef]

Agostinelli, T.
Alamariu, B. A.
Anthopoulos, T. D.
Brabec, C. J.
Bradley, D. D. C.
Campoy-Quiles, M.
Carroll, D. L.
Carroll, D.L.
Cha, H. J.
Cotter, J. E.
Dennler, G.
Duan, X.
Eckert, R. D.
Etchegoin, P. G.
Fang, G.
Feng, N.
Ferenczi, T.
Forberich, K.
Gaudiana, R. A.
Gong, X.
Hardin, B. E.
Heeger, A. J.
Heine, C.
Hiesgen, R.
Hinsch, A.
Hong, C.
Hoppe, H.
Huang, H.
Inganäs, O.
Jang, J.
Kim, Y.
Kimerling, L. C.
Kirchartz, T.
Kraut, J.
Lee, K.
Lee, M. R.
Li, Y.
Liu, J.
Ma, W.
Mayer, A. C.
McGehee, M. D.
Meerholz, K.
Meissner, D.
Morf, R. H.
Moulé, A. J.
Namboothiry, M. A. G.
Nelson, J.
Nie, W.
Niggemann, M.
Partridge, A.
Peterson, E. D.
Pettersson, L. A. A.
Rau, U.
Roman, L. S.
Rowell, M. W.
Ryu, M. S.
Sariciftci, N. S.
Scharber, M. C.
Scully, S. R.
Stavrinou, P. N.
Taretto, K.
Tormen, M.
Tvingstedt, K.
Wang, M.
Winder, C.
Xue, D.
Yang, C.
Yi, Y.
Zeng, L.
Zhou, W.
Zilio, S. D.

Adv. Funct. Mater.

W. Ma, C. Yang, X. Gong, K. Lee, and A. J. Heeger, “Thermally stable, efficient polymer solar cells with nanoscale control of the interpenetrating network morphology,” Adv. Funct. Mater.15(10), 1617–1622 (2005). [CrossRef]
H. Hoppe, M. Niggemann, C. Winder, J. Kraut, R. Hiesgen, A. Hinsch, D. Meissner, and N. S. Sariciftci, “Nanoscale morphology of conjugated polymer/fullerene-based bulk- heterojunction solar cells,” Adv. Funct. Mater.14(10), 1005–1011 (2004). [CrossRef]

Adv. Mater. (Deerfield Beach Fla.)

G. Dennler, M. C. Scharber, and C. J. Brabec, “Polymer-fullerene bulk-heterojunction solar cells,” Adv. Mater. (Deerfield Beach Fla.)21(13), 1323–1338 (2009). [CrossRef]
A. J. Moulé and K. Meerholz, “Controlling morphology in polymer–fullerene mixtures,” Adv. Mater. (Deerfield Beach Fla.)20(2), 240–245 (2008). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

C. Heine and R. H. Morf, “Submicrometer gratings for solar energy applications,” Appl. Opt.34(14), 2476–2482 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

Y. Yi, L. Zeng, C. Hong, J. Liu, N. Feng, X. Duan, L. C. Kimerling, and B. A. Alamariu, “Efficiency enhancement in Si solar cells by textured photonic crystal back reflector,” Appl. Phys. Lett.89, 111111 (2006).
Y. Li, E. D. Peterson, H. Huang, M. Wang, D. Xue, W. Nie, W. Zhou, and D.L. Carroll, “Tube-based geometries for organic photovoltaics,” Appl. Phys. Lett.96, 243503 (2010).
J. Liu, M. A. G. Namboothiry, and D. L. Carroll, “Optical geometries for fiber-based organic photovoltaics,” Appl. Phys. Lett.90(13), 133515 (2007). [CrossRef]

Curr. Appl. Phys.

M. S. Ryu, H. J. Cha, and J. Jang, “Effects of thermal annealing of polymer:fullerene photovoltaic solar cells for high efficiency,” Curr. Appl. Phys.10(2), S206–S209 (2010). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.

Y. Li, W. Nie, J. Liu, A. Partridge, and D. L. Carroll, “The optics of organic photovoltaics: fiber-based devices,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.16(6), 1827–1837 (2010). [CrossRef]

J. Appl. Phys.

J. E. Cotter, “Optical intensity of light in layers of silicon with rear diffuse reflectors,” J. Appl. Phys.84(1), 81–98 (1998). [CrossRef]
L. A. A. Pettersson, L. S. Roman, and O. Inganäs, “Modeling photocurrent action spectra of photovoltaic devices based on organic thin films,” J. Appl. Phys.86(1), 487–496 (1999). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. Chem. C

T. Kirchartz, K. Taretto, and U. Rau, “Efficiency limits of organic bulk heterojunction solar cells,” J. Phys. Chem. C113(41), 17958–17966 (2009). [CrossRef]

Mater. Today

A. C. Mayer, S. R. Scully, B. E. Hardin, M. W. Rowell, and M. D. McGehee, “Polymer-based solar cells,” Mater. Today10(11), 28–33 (2007). [CrossRef]

Microelectron. Eng.

S. D. Zilio, K. Tvingstedt, O. Inganäs, and M. Tormen, “Fabrication of a light trapping system for organic solar cells,” Microelectron. Eng.86(4-6), 1150–1154 (2009). [CrossRef]

Nat. Mater.

M. Campoy-Quiles, T. Ferenczi, T. Agostinelli, P. G. Etchegoin, Y. Kim, T. D. Anthopoulos, P. N. Stavrinou, D. D. C. Bradley, and J. Nelson, “Morphology evolution via self-organization and lateral and vertical diffusion in polymer:fullerene solar cell blends,” Nat. Mater.7(2), 158–164 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Science

M. R. Lee, R. D. Eckert, K. Forberich, G. Dennler, C. J. Brabec, and R. A. Gaudiana, “Solar power wires based on organic photovoltaic materials,” Science324(5924), 232–235 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Sol. Energy

H. Huang, Y. Li, M. Wang, W. Nie, W. Zhou, E. D. Peterson, J. Liu, G. Fang, and D. L. Carroll, “Photovoltaic–thermal solar energy collectors based on optical tubes,” Sol. Energy85(3), 450–454 (2011). [CrossRef]

Other

Konarka, “Single junction solar cell by Konarka with an efficiency of 8.3% on an area of 1 cm2”.

2011, Huang, Sol. Energy
2010, Li, IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.
2010, Li, Appl. Phys. Lett.
2010, Ryu, Curr. Appl. Phys.
2009, Dennler, Adv. Mater. (Deerfield Beach Fla.)
2009, Kirchartz, J. Phys. Chem. C
2009, Lee, Science
2009, Zilio, Microelectron. Eng.
2008, Campoy-Quiles, Nat. Mater.
2008, Moulé, Adv. Mater. (Deerfield Beach Fla.)
2007, Mayer, Mater. Today
2007, Liu, Appl. Phys. Lett.
2006, Yi, Appl. Phys. Lett.
2005, Ma, Adv. Funct. Mater.
2004, Hoppe, Adv. Funct. Mater.
1999, Pettersson, J. Appl. Phys.
1998, Cotter, J. Appl. Phys.
1995, Heine, Appl. Opt.

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