Design rules for minimizing voltage losses in high-efficiency organic solar cells
File(s)Paper_VocRules_NM_final version.pdf (1.22 MB) SI - Final.pdf (4.12 MB)
Accepted version
Supporting information
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The open-circuit voltage of organic solar cells is usually lower than the values achieved in inorganic or perovskite photovoltaic devices with comparable bandgaps. Energy losses during charge separation at the donor–acceptor interface and non-radiative recombination are among the main causes of such voltage losses. Here we combine spectroscopic and quantum-chemistry approaches to identify key rules for minimizing voltage losses: (1) a low energy offset between donor and acceptor molecular states and (2) high photoluminescence yield of the low-gap material in the blend. Following these rules, we present a range of existing and new donor–acceptor systems that combine efficient photocurrent generation with electroluminescence yield up to 0.03%, leading to non-radiative voltage losses as small as 0.21 V. This study provides a rationale to explain and further improve the performance of recently demonstrated high-open-circuit-voltage organic solar cells.
Date Issued
2018-07-16
Online Publication Date
2019-01-16T07:00:35Z
Date Acceptance
2018-06-08
ISSN
1476-1122
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Start Page
703
End Page
709
Journal / Book Title
Nature Materials
Volume
17
Copyright Statement
© 2018 Springer Nature Limited. All rights reserved.
Source Database
manual-entry
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
The Royal Society
Identifier
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-018-0128-z
Grant Number
639750
UF130178
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Physics, Applied
Physics, Condensed Matter
Chemistry
Materials Science
Physics
SMALL-MOLECULE ACCEPTOR
CHARGE-TRANSFER STATES
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
ENERGY-LOSSES
POLYMER
DONOR
RECOMBINATION
OPTIMIZATION
SEPARATION
HOT
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-07-16