1 Basic Principles of Modern Organic Solar Cells
19
investigating doped organic solar cells [51]. A tandem cell showing a 12% efficiency
(Fig. 1.17c) [17] was also fabricated based on the doping technology. Nowadays,
this technology is indispensable for the development of organic solar cells [28, 52,
53]. Junction formation by doping is discussed in Chap. 8 (Sects. 8.3.2. and 8.3.3)
and Chap. 9.
1.3 Conclusions
The basic principles of modern organic solar cells are summarized. Namely, issues
on exciton, D/A sensitization, exciton diffusion, blended junction, route formation,
π −π stacking orientation, HOMO–LUMO gap tuning, non-radiative recombination,
tandem cells, and doping are discussed. Concepts of blended junctions and tandem
cells have continuously boosted efficiencies, and the efficiency of organic solar cells
reached 17.3% in 2020. Organic solar cells have sufficient potential to engender the
next-generation solar cells.
References
1. Report of IEA (International Energy Agency) PVPS (Photovoltaic power Systems Programme),
Trends in Photovoltaic Applications 2019. https://iea-pvps.org/trends_reports/2019-edition/
2. NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab).: Best Research-Cell Efficiency. https://www.nrel.
gov/pv/cell-efficiency.html
3. Meng, L., Zhang, Y. Wan, X., Li, C., Zhang, X., Wang, Y., Ke, X., Xiao, Z., Ding, L., Xia, R.,
Yip, H.-L., Cao, Y., Chen, Y.: Organic and solution-processed tandem solar cells with 17.3%
efficiency. Science 361, 1094–1098 (2018)
4. https://www.taisei.co.jp/about_us/wn/2014/140324_3962.html
5. Kearns, D., Calvin, M.: Photovoltaic Effect and Photoconductivity in Laminated Organic
Systems. J. Chem. Phys. 29, 950–951 (1958)
6. Ghosh, A.K., Morel, D.L., Feng, T., Shaw, R.F., Rowe, C.A., Jr.: Photovoltaic and rectification
properties of Al/Mg phthalocyanine/Ag Schottky-barrier cells. J. Appl. Phys. 45, 230–236
(1974)
7. Ghosh, A.K., Feng, T.: Merocyanine organic solar cells. J. Appl. Phys. 49, 5982–5989 (1978)
8. Chamberlain, G.A.: Organic solar cells: A review. Solar Cells 8, 47–83 (1983) (and references
therein)
9. Wohrle, D., Meissner, D.: Organic solar cells. Adv. Mater. 3, 129–138 (1991) (and references
therein)
10. Tang, C.W.: Two-layer organic photovoltaic cell. Appl. Phys. Lett. 48, 183–185 (1986)
11. Hiramoto, M., Fujiwara, H., Yokoyama, M.: Three-layered organic solar cell with a photoactive
interlayer of codeposited pigments. Appl. Phys. Lett. 58, 1062–1064 (1991)
12. Hiramoto, M., Fujiwara, H., Yokoyama, M.: p-i-n like behavior in three-layered organic solar
cells having c co-deposited interlayer of pigments. J. Appl. Phys. 72, 3781–3787 (1992)
13. Sariciftci, N.S., Smilowitz, L., Heeger, A.J., Wudl, F.: Photoinduced electron transfer from a
conducting polymer to buckminsterfullerene. Science 285, 1474–1476 (1992)
14. Yu, G., Gao, J., Hummelen, J.C., Wudl, F., Heeger, A.J.: Polymer photovoltaic cells: Enhanced
efficiencies via a network of internal donor-acceptor heterojunctions. Science 270, 1789–1791
(1995)
19
investigating doped organic solar cells [51]. A tandem cell showing a 12% efficiency
(Fig. 1.17c) [17] was also fabricated based on the doping technology. Nowadays,
this technology is indispensable for the development of organic solar cells [28, 52,
53]. Junction formation by doping is discussed in Chap. 8 (Sects. 8.3.2. and 8.3.3)
and Chap. 9.
1.3 Conclusions
The basic principles of modern organic solar cells are summarized. Namely, issues
on exciton, D/A sensitization, exciton diffusion, blended junction, route formation,
π −π stacking orientation, HOMO–LUMO gap tuning, non-radiative recombination,
tandem cells, and doping are discussed. Concepts of blended junctions and tandem
cells have continuously boosted efficiencies, and the efficiency of organic solar cells
reached 17.3% in 2020. Organic solar cells have sufficient potential to engender the
next-generation solar cells.
References
1. Report of IEA (International Energy Agency) PVPS (Photovoltaic power Systems Programme),
Trends in Photovoltaic Applications 2019. https://iea-pvps.org/trends_reports/2019-edition/
2. NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab).: Best Research-Cell Efficiency. https://www.nrel.
gov/pv/cell-efficiency.html
3. Meng, L., Zhang, Y. Wan, X., Li, C., Zhang, X., Wang, Y., Ke, X., Xiao, Z., Ding, L., Xia, R.,
Yip, H.-L., Cao, Y., Chen, Y.: Organic and solution-processed tandem solar cells with 17.3%
efficiency. Science 361, 1094–1098 (2018)
4. https://www.taisei.co.jp/about_us/wn/2014/140324_3962.html
5. Kearns, D., Calvin, M.: Photovoltaic Effect and Photoconductivity in Laminated Organic
Systems. J. Chem. Phys. 29, 950–951 (1958)
6. Ghosh, A.K., Morel, D.L., Feng, T., Shaw, R.F., Rowe, C.A., Jr.: Photovoltaic and rectification
properties of Al/Mg phthalocyanine/Ag Schottky-barrier cells. J. Appl. Phys. 45, 230–236
(1974)
7. Ghosh, A.K., Feng, T.: Merocyanine organic solar cells. J. Appl. Phys. 49, 5982–5989 (1978)
8. Chamberlain, G.A.: Organic solar cells: A review. Solar Cells 8, 47–83 (1983) (and references
therein)
9. Wohrle, D., Meissner, D.: Organic solar cells. Adv. Mater. 3, 129–138 (1991) (and references
therein)
10. Tang, C.W.: Two-layer organic photovoltaic cell. Appl. Phys. Lett. 48, 183–185 (1986)
11. Hiramoto, M., Fujiwara, H., Yokoyama, M.: Three-layered organic solar cell with a photoactive
interlayer of codeposited pigments. Appl. Phys. Lett. 58, 1062–1064 (1991)
12. Hiramoto, M., Fujiwara, H., Yokoyama, M.: p-i-n like behavior in three-layered organic solar
cells having c co-deposited interlayer of pigments. J. Appl. Phys. 72, 3781–3787 (1992)
13. Sariciftci, N.S., Smilowitz, L., Heeger, A.J., Wudl, F.: Photoinduced electron transfer from a
conducting polymer to buckminsterfullerene. Science 285, 1474–1476 (1992)
14. Yu, G., Gao, J., Hummelen, J.C., Wudl, F., Heeger, A.J.: Polymer photovoltaic cells: Enhanced
efficiencies via a network of internal donor-acceptor heterojunctions. Science 270, 1789–1791
(1995)