Joule (IF: 46.048) - Jianhui Hou & Yong Cui : Achieving 33.0% Photovoltaic Efficiency with PB2:FCC-Cl-Based Devices

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Solar energy is a renewable and environmentally friendly source of energy. In order to harness sunlight effectively, high-efficiency solar cells are crucial. Professor Hou Jianhui from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor Cui Yong from Peking University, along with their research team, have made significant breakthroughs in the field of organic solar cells. Their research has found that concentrating indoor light sources can suppress energy disorder in organic materials, thereby improving the efficiency and lifespan of organic solar cells. Their research findings, published in the prestigious journal Joule, provide innovative solutions for indoor applications of organic solar cells.

Enhancing the Performance of Organic Solar Cells:

The research team focused on organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells, which have tremendous potential for indoor applications. However, these cells often face limitations due to energy disorder under low lighting conditions. By concentrating indoor light, the researchers successfully mitigated the impact of energy disorder on OPV cells, resulting in improved open-circuit voltage and fill factor.

The team achieved remarkable results with organic solar cells based on the PB2:FCC-Cl material system. The PB2:FCC-Cl-based devices exhibited a photovoltaic efficiency of 29.0% under 500 lux illumination, and when the indoor light source was concentrated to 20,000 lux, the conversion efficiency reached 33.0%, setting a new record for the highest conversion efficiency of organic solar cells under concentrated indoor lighting. Additionally, the researchers found that concentrating indoor light also extended the lifespan of organic solar cells and reduced costs.

Under concentrated indoor lighting, all OPV cells demonstrated excellent stability, thanks to the mild illuminating conditions. Notably, OPV cells based on the PBDB-TF:Y6 system exhibited outstanding morphological stability, with an estimated intrinsic lifespan exceeding 30,000 hours. This discovery showcases the potential of long-lifespan organic solar cells suitable for indoor applications.

Low-Cost Manufacturing Potential:

The researchers also explored the possibility of low-cost manufacturing for concentrated OPV cells. By utilizing light waveguide concentrators, they uncovered the potential for cost-effective production methods. This finding paves the way for economically manufacturing concentrated OPV cells for future indoor applications.

The research team led by Professor Hou Jianhui and Professor Cui Yong achieved significant breakthroughs in the field of concentrated indoor lighting for organic solar cells. By suppressing energy disorder, they successfully enhanced the efficiency, stability, and lifespan of OPV cells under low lighting conditions. These research findings offer innovative solutions for indoor applications of organic solar cells, opening up new possibilities. As research continues to progress, OPV cells under concentrated indoor lighting hold the potential to revolutionize our indoor solar energy utilization, providing sustainable and efficient energy sources for a variety of applications.