Transparent Contact Layer in Organic Photovoltaic Scribes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semi-transparent organic semiconductor devices face challenges with high sheet resistance and limited visible light transmission due to the use of metal layers and conventional transparent conductive oxides, which hinder the scalability and efficiency of industrial-scale photovoltaic devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of sputtered transparent conducting oxide contact layers with a non-sacrificial buffering transport layer that protects the organic semiconductor active layer during deposition, allowing for high conductivity, low sheet resistance, and efficient visible light transmission, while also serving as an oxygen and water diffusion barrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal layers are deposited to form electrical contacts, then conductivity is improved, but visible light transmission is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes metal layers from the contact structure and replaces them with transparent conducting polymers and transparent conducting oxides. This extraction of the metal component eliminates the light blocking effect while maintaining electrical conductivity through alternative transparent materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the contact layers from opaque metals to transparent materials with appropriate conductivity. By selecting transparent conducting polymers and oxides with optimized optical and electrical properties, the contact layers achieve both transparency and conductivity simultaneously.
2Illumination intensity
If transparent conducting polymers are used for contact layers, then visible light transmission is improved, but sheet resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines transparent conducting polymers with transparent conducting oxides in a hybrid contact layer structure. This merging of materials allows the device to achieve both high transparency from the polymer and low sheet resistance from the oxide, overcoming the limitations of using either material alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite contact layers consisting of transparent conducting polymers and transparent conducting oxides. This composite structure leverages the complementary properties of both materials to achieve optimal balance between optical transparency and electrical conductivity.
3Reliability
If sputtering is used to deposit contact layers, then conductivity and light transmission are improved, but the organic semiconductor layer is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a protective buffer layer to the organic semiconductor surface before performing sputtering. This preliminary protective action prevents ion bombardment damage to the organic layer during the sputtering process, allowing the use of sputtered transparent conducting oxides without compromising the underlying semiconductor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a buffer layer as an intermediary between the sputtering process and the organic semiconductor layer. This intermediary protects the sensitive organic material from direct exposure to ion bombardment while still allowing the sputtered transparent conducting oxide to be deposited effectively.
4Reliability
If smaller PV cells are used to maintain acceptable sheet resistance, then contact layer performance is improved, but device area and power output decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition and structure of contact layers to achieve low sheet resistance with thinner, more transparent materials. This allows for larger device areas without compromising electrical performance, as the improved contact layer materials maintain low resistance even over larger surface areas.
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
This solution enables the fabrication of semi-transparent organic devices with improved scalability and efficiency, reducing the need for interconnects and enhancing power generation capacity by maintaining device performance and geometric fill factors, while allowing visible light to pass through.
Implementation Method 1
a first contact layer comprising a first sputter-deposited transparent conducting oxide; a second contact layer comprising a second sputter-deposited transparent conducting oxide
Implementation Method 2
Semi-transparent semiconductor devices have the characteristic of allowing at least some light in the spectrum of visible light to pass completely through the device
Implementation Method 3
a non-sacrificial buffering transport layer that protects the organic semiconductor active layer during deposition
Implementation Method 4
serving as an oxygen and water diffusion barrier
Data Source
AI summary
An organic photovoltaic module includes an electrically interconnected organic photovoltaic cells applied to a common substrate. Each of the electrically interconnected organic photovoltaic cells includes a backside device layer, an organic semiconductor absorber layer, a frontside buffering collection layer deposited on the organic semiconductor absorber layer, and a transparent material contact layer deposited on the frontside buffering collection layer. The organic photovoltaic module includes multiple scribes that separate the electrically interconnected organic photovoltaic cells from each other. The multiple scribes extend into the frontside buffering collection layer, the organic semiconductor absorber layer, and the backside device layer. The transparent material contact layer of a first of the electrically interconnected organic photovoltaic cells extends into the multiple scribes and electrically connects with the backside device layer of a second of the electrically interconnected organic photovoltaic cells.