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High-efficiency polymer solar cells with small photon energy loss

Author

Listed:
  • Kazuaki Kawashima

    (Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University
    RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS))

  • Yasunari Tamai

    (Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura)

  • Hideo Ohkita

    (Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura
    Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency)

  • Itaru Osaka

    (RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS)
    Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency)

  • Kazuo Takimiya

    (Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University
    RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS))

Abstract

A crucial issue facing polymer-based solar cells is how to manage the energetics of the polymer/fullerene blends to maximize short-circuit current density and open-circuit voltage at the same time and thus the power conversion efficiency. Here we demonstrate that the use of a naphthobisoxadiazole-based polymer with a narrow bandgap of 1.52 eV leads to high open-circuit voltages of approximately 1 V and high-power conversion efficiencies of ∼9% in solar cells, resulting in photon energy loss as small as ∼0.5 eV, which is much smaller than that of typical polymer systems (0.7–1.0 eV). This is ascribed to the high external quantum efficiency for the systems with a very small energy offset for charge separation. These unconventional features of the present polymer system will inspire the field of polymer-based solar cells towards further improvement of power conversion efficiencies with both high short-circuit current density and open-circuit voltage.

Suggested Citation

  • Kazuaki Kawashima & Yasunari Tamai & Hideo Ohkita & Itaru Osaka & Kazuo Takimiya, 2015. "High-efficiency polymer solar cells with small photon energy loss," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms10085
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10085
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    Cited by:

    1. Xing, Xueli & Xin, Yu & Sun, Fan & Qu, Wanjun & Hong, Hui & Jin, Hongguang, 2021. "Test of a spectral splitting prototype hybridizing photovoltaic and solar syngas power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).

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