Northwestern University Found That Organic Thin Film Solar Cells Will Be More Efficient To 5.6% Of The New Method

Chicago's Northwestern University research group that does not change in the organic thin film solar cell structure of the semiconductor layer under the premise of a coating only positive, then module conversion efficiency from 3 to 4 percent to 5.2 ~ 5.6% . The National Bureau Huayuanyuankan Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published in the online edition of the paper.

Organic thin film solar cells use, and organic EL through with the same structure of the organic semiconductor solar achieve. Northwestern University has previously developed from the cathode to the anode by ITO/P3HT: PCBM F / Al structure of the solar cell. PCBM for n-type fullerene (C612) derivatives, P3HT for p-type organic semiconductors.

Northwestern University's use of PLD (pulsed laser deposition) method, in the cathode coating thickness of only a few tens nm nm to the nickel oxide (NiO). Subsequently, cascading through the rotation of the P3HT coated semiconductor layer. Nickel oxide is expected to play a hole transport layer and the role of electronic interception, and the semiconductor layer is generated in the light of the electron and hole, efficient transportation to the cathode hole, the electronic interception, leading to reduced energy combined with the loss.

By studying the thickness of 5 ~ 77 nm in the nickel oxide layer was found in 5 ~ 10 nm thick at best, the original 3 to 4 per cent of the unit conversion efficiency has been raised to 5.2 ~ 5.6%. In addition, the open voltage has been increased by 40 percent.

Will further improve the hole transport layer at the same time, to develop a method of printing volumes of volumes of flexible floor of the solar cell production technology.

Source: 日经BP社 Mar. 3, 2008