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An Improved Triple-Tandem Organic Solar Cell

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Dewei Zhao,
Xiao Wei Sun,
Lin Ke and
Swee Tiam Tan
Dewei Zhao
Affiliation:
ZHAO0075@ntu.edu.sgdewei_zhao@hotmail.com, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
Xiao Wei Sun
Affiliation:
exwsun@ntu.edu.sg, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
Lin Ke
Affiliation:
karen-kl@imre.a-star.edu.sg, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore
Swee Tiam Tan
Affiliation:
tanst@ime.a-star.edu.sg, Institute of Microelectronics, Institute of Microelectronics, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore
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Abstract

We present an efficient polymer-small molecule triple-tandem organic solar cell (OSC), consisting of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C61 (PCBM) bulk heterojunction as the first and second cells, and small molecules copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and fullerene (C60) as the third cell on top. These sub-cells are connected by an intermediate layer of Al(1 nm)/MoO3(15 nm), which appears to be highly transparent, structurally smooth, and electrically functional. Compared to our previous all polymer triple-tandem organic solar cells (2.03%), this polymer-small molecule triple-tandem organic solar cell achieves an improved power conversion efficiency of 2.18% with a short-circuit current density (Jsc) = 3.02 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage (Voc) = 1.51 V, and fill factor (FF) = 47.7% under simulated solar irradiation of 100 mW/cm2 (AM1.5G), which can be attributed to the increased photocurrent generation in the third cell since the third cell has the complementary absorption with two bottom cells despite a slightly reduced Voc.

Keywords

polymerorganicphotovoltaic

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