IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v235y2019icp1505-1513.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A crucial factor affecting the power conversion efficiency of oxide/metal/oxide-based organic photovoltaics: Optical cavity versus transmittance

Author

Listed:
  • Lee, Byeong Ryong
  • Park, Gi Eun
  • Kim, Yong Woon
  • Choi, Dong Hoon
  • Kim, Tae Geun

Abstract

Considerable effort has been directed at improving the power conversion efficiency of organic photovoltaics, using oxide/metal/oxide multilayers as transparent electrodes, because of their numerous advantages including lower sheet resistance, higher transmittance, and higher flexibility in comparison to typical indium tin oxides. However, to date, most organic photovoltaics based on oxide/metal/oxide electrodes exhibit a lower conversion efficiency than indium tin oxide-based organic photovoltaics, without any clarification. In this investigation, we identify crucial factors that influence the power conversion efficiency of oxide/metal/oxide-based organic photovoltaics to fully exploit the potential of these devices, based on the correlation between the optical cavity and the transmittance. For this purpose, we fabricate five sets ofinverted organic photovoltaics using poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}) and [6,6]-Phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester-based active layers and ZnO/Ag/ZnO electrodes with top ZnO layers of varying thicknesses, with reference organic photovoltaics using indium tin oxides, on both rigid and flexible substrates. The highest power conversion efficiency of 8.71% and 7.53% is obtained from single-junction organic photovoltaics with 40/9/8-nm-thick ZnO/Ag/ZnO electrodes on each substrate, due to strong micro-cavity effects between the top and bottom Ag layers, despite the relatively low transmittance of the electrode. This result is supported by the relation between the electric-field intensity and the transmittance curves of the ZnO/Ag/ZnO/solution-based ZnO/active bulk optical stacks based on simulation results. Furthermore, flexible organic photovoltaics with the ZnO/Ag/ZnO electrodes demonstrate much better performance in mechanical bending tests in comparison to the performance of standard indium tin oxide-based organic photovoltaics, and the previously reported oxide/metal/oxide-based organic photovoltaics.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Byeong Ryong & Park, Gi Eun & Kim, Yong Woon & Choi, Dong Hoon & Kim, Tae Geun, 2019. "A crucial factor affecting the power conversion efficiency of oxide/metal/oxide-based organic photovoltaics: Optical cavity versus transmittance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1505-1513.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:235:y:2019:i:c:p:1505-1513
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.11.067
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261918317732
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.11.067?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cao, Weiran & Li, Zhifeng & Yang, Yixing & Zheng, Ying & Yu, Weijie & Afzal, Rimza & Xue, Jiangeng, 2014. "“Solar tree”: Exploring new form factors of organic solar cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 134-139.
    2. Kosorić, Vesna & Lau, Siu-Kit & Tablada, Abel & Lau, Stephen Siu-Yu, 2018. "General model of Photovoltaic (PV) integration into existing public high-rise residential buildings in Singapore – Challenges and benefits," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 70-89.
    3. Sahraei, Nasim & Looney, Erin E. & Watson, Sterling M. & Peters, Ian Marius & Buonassisi, Tonio, 2018. "Adaptive power consumption improves the reliability of solar-powered devices for internet of things," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 322-329.
    4. Russo, Johnny & Ray, William & Litz, Marc S., 2017. "Low light illumination study on commercially available homojunction photovoltaic cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 10-21.
    5. Chiu, Jian-Ming & Chu, Chih-Chien & Zena, Desalegn Manayeh & Tai, Yian, 2015. "Simultaneous enhancement of photocurrent and open circuit voltage in a ZnO based organic solar cell by mixed self-assembled monolayers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 681-686.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhao, Dong & Liu, Ying, 2020. "A prototype for light-electric harvester based on light sensitive liquid crystal elastomer cantilever," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    2. Siu-Kit Lau & Vesna Kosorić & Monika Bieri & André.M. Nobre, 2021. "Identification of Factors Influencing Development of Photovoltaic (PV) Implementation in Singapore," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-30, March.
    3. Li, Qingxiang & Zanelli, Alessandra, 2021. "A review on fabrication and applications of textile envelope integrated flexible photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    4. Murto, P. & Jalas, M. & Juntunen, J. & Hyysalo, S., 2019. "Devices and strategies: An analysis of managing complexity in energy retrofit projects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Thebault, Martin & Desthieux, Gilles & Castello, Roberto & Berrah, Lamia, 2022. "Large-scale evaluation of the suitability of buildings for photovoltaic integration: Case study in Greater Geneva," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    6. Qi, Nanjian & Yin, Yajiang & Dai, Keren & Wu, Chengjun & Wang, Xiaofeng & You, Zheng, 2021. "Comprehensive optimized hybrid energy storage system for long-life solar-powered wireless sensor network nodes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    7. Luan, Weiling & Zhang, Chengxi & Luo, Lingli & Yuan, Binxia & Jin, Lin & Kim, Yong-Sang, 2017. "Enhancement of the photoelectric performance in inverted bulk heterojunction solid solar cell with inorganic nanocrystals," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 2217-2223.
    8. Andrew Ly & Saeid Bashash, 2020. "Fast Transactive Control for Frequency Regulation in Smart Grids with Demand Response and Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-23, September.
    9. Tushar, Wayes & Yuen, Chau & Saha, Tapan K. & Morstyn, Thomas & Chapman, Archie C. & Alam, M. Jan E. & Hanif, Sarmad & Poor, H. Vincent, 2021. "Peer-to-peer energy systems for connected communities: A review of recent advances and emerging challenges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    10. Mohammed Albattah & Daniel Efurosibina Attoye, 2021. "A Quantitative Investigation on Awareness of Renewable Energy Building Technology in the United Arab Emirates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-20, June.
    11. Freitas, Alessandro M. & Gomes, Rodrigo A.M. & Ferreira, Rafael A.M. & Porto, Matheus P., 2019. "Experimental performance of commercial OPV panels tested outdoor," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 1004-1012.
    12. Lu, Yujie & Chang, Ruidong & Lim, Suxann, 2018. "Crowdfunding for solar photovoltaics development: A review and forecast," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 439-450.
    13. Zhang, Hongyan & Gao, Shuaizhi & Zhou, Peng, 2023. "Role of digitalization in energy storage technological innovation: Evidence from China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    14. Kosorić, Vesna & Huang, Huajing & Tablada, Abel & Lau, Siu-Kit & Tan, Hugh T.W., 2019. "Survey on the social acceptance of the productive façade concept integrating photovoltaic and farming systems in high-rise public housing blocks in Singapore," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 197-214.
    15. Seihun Yang & Weiming Chen & Hana Kim, 2021. "Building Energy Commons: Three Mini-PV Installation Cases in Apartment Complexes in Seoul," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, January.
    16. Vyas, Maharshi & Chowdhury, Sumit & Verma, Abhishek & Jain, V.K., 2022. "Solar Photovoltaic Tree: Urban PV power plants to increase power to land occupancy ratio," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 283-293.
    17. Abel Tablada & Vesna Kosorić & Huajing Huang & Ian Kevin Chaplin & Siu-Kit Lau & Chao Yuan & Stephen Siu-Yu Lau, 2018. "Design Optimization of Productive Façades: Integrating Photovoltaic and Farming Systems at the Tropical Technologies Laboratory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-24, October.
    18. Mohannad Bayoumi, 2020. "Potential of integrating power generation with solar thermal cooling to improve the energy efficiency in a university campus in Saudi Arabia," Energy & Environment, , vol. 31(1), pages 130-154, February.
    19. Junpeng Huang & Jianhua Fan & Simon Furbo & Liqun Li, 2019. "Solar Water Heating Systems Applied to High-Rise Buildings—Lessons from Experiences in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-26, August.
    20. Hassan Elahi & Khushboo Munir & Marco Eugeni & Sofiane Atek & Paolo Gaudenzi, 2020. "Energy Harvesting towards Self-Powered IoT Devices," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-31, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:235:y:2019:i:c:p:1505-1513. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.