1
|
Anvarhaghighi N, Habibzadeh-Sharif A. Modified transmission line model for grating solar cells. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:16315-16329. [PMID: 37157713 DOI: 10.1364/oe.486511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Due to the wide range of applications of plasmonic diffraction gratings, it has become essential to provide an analytical method for modeling performance of the devices designed based on these structures. An analytical technique, in addition to greatly reducing the simulation time, can become a useful tool for designing these devices and predicting their performance. However, one of the major challenges of the analytical techniques is to improve the accuracy of their results compared to those of the numerical methods. So, here, a modified transmission line model (TLM) has been presented for the one-dimensional grating solar cell considering diffracted reflections in order to improve the accuracy of TLM results. Formulation of this model has been developed for the normal incidence of both TE and TM polarizations taking into account diffraction efficiencies. The modified TLM results for a silicon solar cell consisting of silver gratings considering different grating widths and heights have shown that lower order diffractions have dominant effects on the accuracy improvement in the modified TLM, while the results have been converged considering higher order diffractions. In addition, our proposed model has been verified by comparing its results to those of the finite element method-based full-wave numerical simulations.
Collapse
|
2
|
Buhl J, Lüder H, Gerken M. Injection-limited and space charge-limited currents in organic semiconductor devices with nanopatterned metal electrodes. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 34:035202. [PMID: 36179674 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac9686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Charge injection at metal-organic interfaces often limits the electric current in organic light-emitting diodes without additional injection layers. Integrated nanopatterned electrodes may provide a way to overcome this current injection limit by local field enhancements leading to locally space charge-limited currents. We compare electrical characteristics of planar and nanopatterned hole-only devices based on the charge transport material NPB with different thicknesses in order to investigate the nanopattern's effect on the current limitation mechanism. Integration of a periodic nanograting into the metal electrode yields a current increase of about 1.5-4 times, depending on thickness and operating voltage. To verify the experimental results, we implement a finite element simulation model that solves the coupled Poisson and drift-diffusion equations in a weak form. It includes space charges, drift and diffusion currents, nonlinear mobility, and charge injection at the boundaries. We find in experiment and simulation that the planar devices exhibit injection-limited currents, whereas the currents in the nanopatterned devices are dominated by space charge effects, overcoming the planar injection limit. The simulations show space charge accumulations at the corners of the nanopattern, confirming the idea of locally space charge-limited currents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janek Buhl
- Chair for Integrated Systems and Photonics, Faculty of Engineering, Kiel University, Kaiserstraße 2, D-24143 Kiel, Germany
- Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science KiNSIS, Kiel University, Christian-Albrechts-Platz 4, D-24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Hannes Lüder
- Chair for Integrated Systems and Photonics, Faculty of Engineering, Kiel University, Kaiserstraße 2, D-24143 Kiel, Germany
- Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science KiNSIS, Kiel University, Christian-Albrechts-Platz 4, D-24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Martina Gerken
- Chair for Integrated Systems and Photonics, Faculty of Engineering, Kiel University, Kaiserstraße 2, D-24143 Kiel, Germany
- Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science KiNSIS, Kiel University, Christian-Albrechts-Platz 4, D-24118 Kiel, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
|
4
|
Yakoob MA, Lamminaho J, Petersons K, Prajapati A, Destouesse E, Patil BR, Rubahn HG, Shalev G, Stensborg J, Madsen M. Efficiency-Enhanced Scalable Organic Photovoltaics Using Roll-to-Roll Nanoimprint Lithography. CHEMSUSCHEM 2022; 15:e202101611. [PMID: 34699687 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202101611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Light-trapping nanostructures have for decades been researched as a route to enhance the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). Whereas the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of OSCs have reached above 18 %, industrially compatible devices made by scalable processing in air, using only nontoxic solvents and materials, have shown significantly lower performance values. Although light-trapping nanostructures may improve this, the methods for integrating the nanostructures are typically not compatible with industrial scale up. In this work, scalable, industrially compatible, nonfullerene-based OSCs are developed with integrated light-trapping nanostructures at the back electrodes in the devices. The OSCs are made by using scalable roll-to-roll (R2R) and sheet-to-sheet (S2S) processes and the nanostructures are made by using roll-to-plate (R2P) nanoimprint lithography. A fully scalable solution is thereby developed for industrially compatible nanostructured OSCs. The nanostructured devices show enhancements in PCE up to 25 % compared to reference cells, owing to an enhancement in the short-circuit current density (15 %) by enhanced absorption, and improved charge carrier extraction leading to an enhancement in the fill factor (7 %). Optical modeling is utilized to verify the optical effect of the nanostructures. The best devices attain a PCE of 6.5 %, which is the highest reported efficiency for air-processed slot-die coated ITO-free flexible PBDB-T : ITIC devices, here using nontoxic solvents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A Yakoob
- SDU NanoSyd, Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, 6400, Sønderborg, Denmark
| | - Jani Lamminaho
- SDU NanoSyd, Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, 6400, Sønderborg, Denmark
| | | | - Ashish Prajapati
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Elodie Destouesse
- SDU NanoSyd, Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, 6400, Sønderborg, Denmark
| | - Bhushan R Patil
- SDU NanoSyd, Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, 6400, Sønderborg, Denmark
| | - Horst-Günter Rubahn
- SDU NanoSyd, Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, 6400, Sønderborg, Denmark
| | - Gil Shalev
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
- The Ilse-Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Jan Stensborg
- Stensborg A/S, Risø Huse 50, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Morten Madsen
- SDU NanoSyd, Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, 6400, Sønderborg, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Controllable Photoelectric Properties of Carbon Dots and Their Application in Organic Solar Cells. CHINESE JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10118-021-2637-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
6
|
Elshorbagy MH, Sánchez PA, Cuadrado A, Alda J, Esteban Ó. Resonant nano-dimer metasurface for ultra-thin a-Si:H solar cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7179. [PMID: 33785847 PMCID: PMC8009869 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86738-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-cost hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells (a-Si:H) can perform better and be more competitive by including nanostructures. An optimized nano-dimer structure embedded in close contact with the back electrode of an aSi:H ultra-thin solar cells can enhance the deliverable short-circuit current up to 27.5 %. This enhancement is the result of an increase in the absorption at the active layer, that is the product of an efficient scattering from the nanostructure. From our calculations, the nano-dimer structure must be made out of a high-index of refraction material, like GaP. The evaluation of the scattering and absorption cross section of the structure supports the calculated enhancement in short-circuit current, that is always accompanied by a decrease in the total reflectance of the cell, which is reduced by about 50 %.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud H Elshorbagy
- Photonics Engineering Group, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28801, Madrid, Spain.,Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, El Minya, 61519, Egypt
| | - Pablo A Sánchez
- Photonics Engineering Group, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28801, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alexander Cuadrado
- Escuela de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, University Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, 28933, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Alda
- Applied Optics Complutense Group, University Complutense of Madrid, Arcos de Jalón, 118, 28037, Madrid, Spain
| | - Óscar Esteban
- Photonics Engineering Group, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28801, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kuntamung K, Yaiwong P, Lertvachirapaiboon C, Ishikawa R, Shinbo K, Kato K, Ounnunkad K, Baba A. The effect of gold quantum dots/grating-coupled surface plasmons in inverted organic solar cells. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:210022. [PMID: 33959372 PMCID: PMC8074977 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We studied the effect of gold quantum dots (AuQDs)/grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance (GC-SPR) in inverted organic solar cells (OSCs). AuQDs are located within a GC-SPR evanescent field in inverted OSCs, indicating an interaction between GC-SPR and AuQDs' quantum effects, subsequently giving rise to improvement in the performance of inverted OSCs. The fabricated solar cell device comprises an ITO/TiO2/P3HT : PCBM/PEDOT : PSS : AuQD/silver grating structure. The AuQDs were loaded into a hole transport layer (PEDOT : PSS) of the inverted OSCs to increase absorption in the near-ultraviolet (UV) light region and to emit visible light into the neighbouring photoactive layer, thereby achieving light-harvesting improvement of the device. The grating structures were fabricated on P3HT:PCBM layers using a nanoimprinting technique to induce GC-SPR within the inverted OSCs. The AuQDs incorporated within the strongly enhanced GC-SPR evanescent electric field on metallic nanostructures in the inverted OSCs improved the short-circuit current and the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. In comparison with the reference OSC and OSCs with only green AuQDs or only metallic grating, the developed device indicates enhancement of up to 16% power conversion efficiency. This indicates that our light management approach allows for greater light utilization of the OSCs because of the synergistic effect of G-AuQDs and GC-SPR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kulrisa Kuntamung
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi-2-nocho, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Patrawadee Yaiwong
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi-2-nocho, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Chutiparn Lertvachirapaiboon
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi-2-nocho, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| | - Ryousuke Ishikawa
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi-2-nocho, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| | - Kazunari Shinbo
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi-2-nocho, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| | - Keizo Kato
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi-2-nocho, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| | - Kontad Ounnunkad
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Research Center on Chemistry for Development of Health Promoting Products from Northern Resources, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Materials Science and Technology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Akira Baba
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 8050 Ikarashi-2-nocho, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Nguyen TP, Nguyen DLT, Nguyen VH, Le TH, Vo DVN, Ly QV, Kim SY, Le QV. Recent Progress in Carbon-Based Buffer Layers for Polymer Solar Cells. Polymers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1858. [PMID: 31717989 PMCID: PMC6918399 DOI: 10.3390/polym11111858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon-based materials are promising candidates as charge transport layers in various optoelectronic devices and have been applied to enhance the performance and stability of such devices. In this paper, we provide an overview of the most contemporary strategies that use carbon-based materials including graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, carbon quantum dots, and graphitic carbon nitride as buffer layers in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The crucial parameters that regulate the performance of carbon-based buffer layers are highlighted and discussed in detail. Furthermore, the performances of recently developed carbon-based materials as hole and electron transport layers in PSCs compared with those of commercially available hole/electron transport layers are evaluated. Finally, we elaborate on the remaining challenges and future directions for the development of carbon-based buffer layers to achieve high-efficiency and high-stability PSCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thang Phan Nguyen
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials Chemistry, Advanced Institute of Materials Science, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam;
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Dang Le Tri Nguyen
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam; (D.L.T.N.); (Q.V.L.)
| | - Van-Huy Nguyen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials for Energy and Environmental Applications, Lac Hong University, Bien Hoa 810000, Vietnam;
| | - Thu-Ha Le
- Faculty of Materials Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Vietnam National University–Ho Chi Minh City (VNU–HCM), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam;
| | - Dai-Viet N. Vo
- Center of Excellence for Green Energy and Environmental Nanomaterials (CE@GrEEN), Nguyen Tat Thanh University, 300A Nguyen Tat Thanh, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City 755414, Vietnam;
| | - Quang Viet Ly
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam; (D.L.T.N.); (Q.V.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, National Center for International Joint Research on Membrane Science and Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Soo Young Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Quyet Van Le
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam; (D.L.T.N.); (Q.V.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Multifunctional Fischer Aminocarbene Complexes as Hole or Electron Transporting Layers in Organic Solar Cells. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23040751. [PMID: 29587345 PMCID: PMC6017471 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23040751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A new series of Fischer carbenes have been synthetized and examined as hole-transporting or electron-transporting layers (HTLs or ETLs) in the fabrication of organic solar cells (OSCs). The synthesis of three Fischer aminocarbene complexes with the general formula [Cr(CO)5{C(NHCH2)Ar}] (Ar = 2-pyridyl (3a), 3-pyridyl (3b) and 4-pyridyl (3c)) is reported. The molecular structure of complex 3b has been confirmed by X-ray analysis. In order to study the possible applications of the three Fischer aminocarbenes in OSCs, thin films of these complexes were prepared using a vacuum deposition process. These organometallic films were chemically and morphologically characterized by IR spectroscopy, SEM, AFM and XRD. According to the IR and Tauc analysis, the vacuum deposition process generates thin films free of impurities with an activation energy of 4.0, 2.7 and 2.1 eV for 3a, 3b y 3c, respectively. The UV-vis spectra of the amorphous aminocarbene films show that they are practically transparent to the visible radiation of the electromagnetic spectrum. This is due to the fact that their absorption is located mainly in the ultraviolet range. Two OSCs with bulk-heterojunction configuration were manufactured in order to prove the use of the aminocarbenes as ETL o HTL. The aminocarbene [Cr(CO)5{C(NHCH2) 4-pyridyl}] (3c) proved to be suitable as ETL with a fill factor (FF) of 0.23 and a short circuit current density (JSC) of 1.037 mA/cm2.
Collapse
|