Efficient organic tandem solar cells based on small molecules

Journal article

In this paper, two vacuum processed single heterojunction organic solar cells with complementary absorption are described and the construction and optimization of tandem solar cells based on the combination of these heterojunctions demonstrated. The red-absorbing heterojunction consists of C₆₀ and a fluorinated zinc phthalocyanine derivative (F4-ZnPc) that leads to a 0.1-0.15 V higher open circuit voltage V_OC than the commonly used ZnPc. The second heterojunction incorporates C₆₀ and a dicyanovinyl-capped sexithiophene derivative (DCV6T) that mainly absorbs in the green. The combination of both heterojunctions into one tandem solar cell leads to an absorption over the whole visible range of the sun spectrum. Thickness variations of the transparent p-doped optical spacer between both subcells in the tandem solar cell is shown to lead to a significant change in short circuit current density j_sc due to optical interference effects, whereas V_OC and fill factor are hardly affected. The maximum efficiency η of about 5.6% is found for a spacer thickness of 150-165 nm. Based on the optimized 165nm thick spacer, effects of intensity and angle of illumination, and temperature on a tandem device are investigated. Variations in illumination intensity lead to a linear change in j_sc over three orders of magnitude and a nearly constant η in the range of 30 to 310 mW cm⁻². Despite the stacked heterojunctions, the performance of the tandem device is robust against different illumination angles: j_sc and η closely follow a cosine behavior between 0° and 70°. Investigations of the temperature behavior of the tandem device show an increase in η of 0.016 percentage points per Kelvin between −20 °C and 25 °C followed by a plateau up to 50 °C. Finally, further optimization of the tandem stack results in a certified η of (6.07 ± 0.24)% on (1.9893 ± 0.0060)cm² (Fraunhofer ISE), i.e., areas large enough to be of relevance for modules. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Authors: Riede, M; Uhrich, C; Widmer, J; Timmreck, R; Wynands, D

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Advanced Functional Materials
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 16
• Pages: 3019-3028
• Publication date: 2011-08-23
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201002760
• EISSN: 1616-3028
• ISSN: 1616-301X
• Language: English
• Keywords: complementary absorption; doping; small molecules; organic solar cells; tandem solar cells