In order to fully harness the potential of solar energy, the development of affordable and environmentally friendly solar cells is essential. Scientists have made significant strides in understanding the energy dynamics within organic solar cells, a breakthrough that could lead to enhanced efficiency.
“To unlock the complete potential of organic solar cells, we need a comprehensive understanding of their functioning, and we have achieved that now. This knowledge provides valuable insights for the creation of new, efficient, and sustainable solar cell materials,” says Mats Fahlman, professor at the Laboratory for Organic Electronics at Linköping University.
Currently, solar energy accounts for approximately two percent of global energy consumption. However, the power available from the sun far exceeds this figure, making it crucial to develop solar cells that are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and capable of efficiently harnessing a significant portion of solar radiation for electricity generation.
Challenges in organic solar cell efficiency Organic solar cells, based on conductive polymers, have emerged as a promising sustainable alternative. Yet, until recently, they lagged behind traditional silicon-based solar cells in terms of efficiency due to unavoidable energy losses during charge separation.
In 2016, a team of researchers at Linköping University, in collaboration with colleagues in Hong Kong, discovered a solution to minimize energy loss by using specific donor-acceptor materials that facilitated easier electron release from their holes. This breakthrough led to increased efficiency. However, the underlying mechanism remained elusive.
Unraveling the energy losses Now, the same research team at Linköping University has made significant progress in unraveling the mystery that has divided the scientific community. In a recent study published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Communications, the researchers successfully identified the energy levels necessary to minimize energy losses.
“To investigate energy flows, we stacked nanometer-thick conductive polymer films in layers, similar to a strawberry cake. Subsequently, we measured the energy required to separate electrons from their holes in each layer,” explains Xian’e Li, a PhD student at Linköping University.
Through this systematic approach, the researchers shed light on the mechanism behind energy-efficient charge separation. This groundbreaking study paves the way for advancements in organic solar cell development.
Footnote: The organic solar cells studied employ an electron acceptor material different from the commonly used fullerene (a type of carbon). Non-fullerene-based organic solar cells offer increased stability and enhanced light absorption capacity, enabling a higher conversion of solar radiation into electrical energy.
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