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Reduced optical loss in mechanically stacked multi-junction organic solar cells exhibiting complementary absorptions

Yen-Tseng Lin, Chu-Hsien Chou, Fang-Chung Chen, Chih-Wei Chu, and Chain-Shu Hsu

Open Access Open Access

Abstract

This paper describes a promising approach toward preparing effective electrical and optical interconnections for tandem organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs). The first subcell featured a semi-transparent electrode, which allowed a portion of the solar irradiation to pass through and to enter the second subcell exhibiting complementary absorption behavior. The resulting multi-junction OPV had multiple contacts such that the subcells could be easily connected either in series or in parallel. More importantly, we used UV-curable epoxy to “mechanically” stack the two subcells and to eliminate the air gap between them, thereby reducing the optical loss induced by mismatches of refractive indices. Therefore, an improved power conversion efficiency of approximately 6.5% has been achieved.

© 2014 Optical Society of America

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Figures (6)
Fig. 1
Fig. 1 (a) Schematic representation of the device structure of the multi-junction OPVs. (b) Chemical structures of the materials (PBDTTT-C-T, P3HT, PC60BM and IC60BA) used in this work.

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Fig. 2
Fig. 2 (a) Absorption spectra of the films of PBDTTT-C-T:PC60BM film (1:1.5, w/w) and the P3HT:IC60BA (1:1, w/w). (b) The EQE spectra of the two subcells in the tandem OPVs. The device structures of the front cell and the back cell device are ITO/ZnO(40nm)/PBDTTT-C-T:PC60BM (95 nm)/MoO3(3.5 nm)/Ag(15nm) and ITO/PEDOT:PSS(45nm)/P3HT:IC60BA (200 nm)/Ca(30nm)/Al(100nm), respectively.

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Fig. 3
Fig. 3 The transmittance spectra of the front subcell and its semitransparent anode. Device structure: ITO/ZnO(40nm)/PBDTTT-C-T:PC60BM (95 nm)/MoO3(3.5 nm)/Ag(15nm).

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Fig. 4
Fig. 4 J-V curves of the front ST subcells, the rear subcells, and the tandem OPV connected either in series or in parallel measured under AM 1.5G illumination (100 mW cm−2). (a) An air gap was present between the subcells; (b) a layer of UV curable epoxy was inserted between the subcells.

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Fig. 5
Fig. 5 (a) The EQE spectra of the rear subcells in the tandem OPVs before and after the air gap was filled. (b) The EQE spectra of the tandem cells connected in parallel before and after the air gap was filled.

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Fig. 6
Fig. 6 Imitating the transmittances of the tandem cells in TracePro®. A 1 mm air gap existed between the front and rear subcells; the spectrum of the solar irradiance was set according to IEC 60904-9.

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Tables (2)

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Table 1 Photovoltaic parameters of individual subcells and tandem structures. An air gap existed between the subcells in the tandem cells.

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Table 2 Photovoltaic parameters of individual subcells and tandem structures. The air gap between the subcells was eliminated with UV-curable epoxy.

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Equations (1)

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T= 4 n 1 n 2 ( n 1 + n 2 ) 2
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