NIR-absorbing non-fullerene compounds for transparent organic photovoltaics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fullerene-based organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells face challenges in achieving high performance with both high efficiency and transparency, as they have low power conversion efficiency (PCE) and limited visible transmittance, making them unsuitable for semi-transparent solar cells.
Innovation Solution
Development of compounds represented by Formulas I and II, which are used in optoelectronic devices, featuring specific metal centers, ligands, and substituents that enhance near-infrared (NIR) absorbance, allowing for the creation of materials with improved NIR absorption without compromising visible light transmittance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional fullerene-based OPV cells are used, then the device structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the power conversion efficiency is low and visible transmittance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the acceptor material from conventional fullerene to non-fullerene compounds with specific molecular architectures. This structural parameter change enables simultaneous achievement of high power conversion efficiency (exceeding 15%) and high visible transmittance (greater than 50%), resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and productivity by maintaining solution-processability while dramatically improving performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material design by combining electron-donor polymers with novel non-fullerene electron-acceptor compounds. This composite approach creates optimized bulk heterojunction structures that achieve both high efficiency charge separation and high visible light transmittance, while remaining compatible with existing solution-based manufacturing processes
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional fullerene-based OPV cells are used, then the device structure is simple, but the visible transmittance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the acceptor material by designing non-fullerene compounds with tailored HOMO-LUMO energy levels and reduced visible light absorption coefficients. This enables the active layer to maintain high electron mobility for efficient charge transport while allowing greater visible light transmission (greater than 50%), thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and illumination intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality optimization by designing the non-fullerene acceptor to have specific spatial distribution of electron-accepting and electron-donating moieties within the molecular structure. This localized functional distribution enables efficient charge separation at the donor-acceptor interface while maintaining overall transparency in the visible range, compatible with simple manufacturing processes
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These compounds enable the fabrication of organic photovoltaic cells with enhanced NIR absorbance and potential for higher power conversion efficiency while maintaining high visible transmittance, addressing the limitations of conventional fullerene-based OPVs.
Implementation Method 1
Development of compounds represented by Formulas I and II, which are used in optoelectronic devices, featuring specific metal centers, ligands, and substituents that enhance near-infrared (NIR) absorbance
Implementation Method 2
Photosensitive optoelectronic devices convert electromagnetic radiation into electricity. Solar cells, also called photovoltaic (PV) devices or cells, are a type of photosensitive optoelectronic device that is specifically used to generate electrical power
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are compounds of Formula I and Formula II. Also provided are formulations comprising these compounds. Further provided are optoelectronic devices that utilize these compounds.