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Semitransparent organic photovoltaics with wide geographical adaptability as sustainable smart windows

Author

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  • Jiangsheng Yu

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Photonic Research Institute (PRI), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Jihong Pu

    (Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Dongsheng Xie

    (Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy & Information Polymer Materials, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology)

  • Zhenhai Ai

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Photonic Research Institute (PRI), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Yongwen Lang

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Photonic Research Institute (PRI), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Menghua Cao

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Photonic Research Institute (PRI), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Chunhui Duan

    (Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy & Information Polymer Materials, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology)

  • Lin Lu

    (Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Gang Li

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Photonic Research Institute (PRI), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Photonic-Thermal-Electrical Energy Materials and Devices, Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

Abstract

Semitransparent organic photovoltaics (ST-OPVs) have gained significant attention due to their rapid iteration of high-efficiency photoactive materials and potential applications in building-integrated photovoltaics as smart windows. In this work, we establish a parameter (FoMLUE) to evaluate the potential of photoactive materials for ST-OPVs, combining average visual transmittance, bandgap, and current density. PBOF and eC9 exhibit the highest FoMLUE values of 0.084 and 0.161 for the investigated donors and acceptors, respectively. We achieve a light utilization efficiency of 6.05% as the figure of merit for all semitransparent solar cells. The derived ST-OPV exhibits enhanced thermal insulation and operational stability compared to its counterpart. The geographical analysis indicates that the hot summer/warm winter zone is the most suitable for ST-OPV glazing windows, delivering an annual total energy-saving of 1.43 GJ m-2. Our results demonstrate the multifunctionality and geographical factors of ST-OPVs for constructing sustainable energy-saving smart windows.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiangsheng Yu & Jihong Pu & Dongsheng Xie & Zhenhai Ai & Yongwen Lang & Menghua Cao & Chunhui Duan & Lin Lu & Gang Li, 2025. "Semitransparent organic photovoltaics with wide geographical adaptability as sustainable smart windows," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62546-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62546-8
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