Optimal morphology for a composite solar cell

Conference item

Charge transport in a composite solar cell (CSC) is analysed by considering independent and random migration of the photo-generated electrons/holes over interpenetrating conducting networks. It is shown that besides an interface area and the materials parameters the efficiency (average number of the carriers reaching the electrode per time unit) of the CSC depends on the effective dimensionality of the conducting channels. Our analysis shows that the 1-d network is similar to20% more effective than the 3-d one, and therefore the morphology of the 1-d type for the organic phase within a 3-d inorganic one is preferable for the CSC. It is shown that the CSC with bulk generation of excitons is potentially more efficient than a dye-sensitised solar cell. The highest efficiency of collection of photo-generated carriers for the CSC at highest possible current for the given material properties cannot exceed similar to40% and 34% for 1-d and 3-d networks respectively.

Authors: Burlakov, V; Briggs, G; Sutton, A

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: ORGANIC OPTOELECTRONIC MATERIALS, PROCESSING AND DEVICES
• Volume: 708
• Pages: 381-389
• Publication date: 2002-01-01
• Event title: Symposium on Organic Optoelectronic Materials, Processing and Devices held at the 2001 MRS Fall Meeting
• ISSN: 0272-9172
• ISBN: 1558996443
• Keywords: recombination; PHOTOVOLTAICS