Organic Solar Cell Composite Layer for High Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar cells face challenges in achieving high efficiency and low manufacturing costs due to the need for highly purified materials and expensive processing equipment, as well as issues with stability and efficiency in alternative technologies such as dye-sensitized and organic photovoltaic cells.
Innovation Solution
A solar cell structure featuring a composite layer with a light absorber impregnated into a porous metal oxide layer, a light absorption structure on top, and a hole conductive layer, which enhances the separation and collection of photoelectrons and photoholes, and can be manufactured using a cost-effective solution application method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If inorganic semiconductor based solar cells (n-p diode type single-crystalline silicon or GaAs) are used to achieve high conversion efficiency, then photoelectric conversion efficiency is improved (higher than 20%), but manufacturing cost increases due to significantly highly purified materials and expensive processing equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from inorganic semiconductors to organic semiconductors, which have different electrical and optical properties. This allows achieving high efficiency through molecular design and blending ratios rather than requiring highly purified materials and expensive single-crystallization processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite organic semiconductor materials consisting of electron donor and electron acceptor components. This composite approach enables tuning of energy levels and charge transport properties to achieve high efficiency without requiring the ultra-pure materials needed for inorganic semiconductor solar cells
2Ease of manufacture
If dye-sensitized solar cell with liquid electrolyte and Ru based dye is used to reduce manufacturing cost, then cost is reduced, but stability deteriorates due to volatile liquid electrolyte and efficiency is limited (11-12%)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrolyte from liquid to solid state by using a hole-conductive organic material, which eliminates volatility issues and improves stability. The solid state also enables better interfacial contact and charge transport
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining organic semiconductor light absorber with hole-conductive organic material, creating an all-organic solar cell that avoids the stability issues of liquid electrolytes while maintaining low manufacturing cost
3Reliability
If all-solid state DSSC using Spiro-OMeTAD and organic hole conductive material is used to improve stability, then stability is improved, but efficiency remains low (0.74% to 6%)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optimized composite organic semiconductor materials with specific electron donor-acceptor combinations that achieve much higher efficiency (up to 17.3%) compared to previous all-solid state DSSCs, while maintaining the stable solid-state structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the local properties of the organic semiconductor materials, including molecular structure, energy levels, and morphology, to enhance charge generation and transport efficiency in the solid-state configuration
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 structure achieves a power conversion efficiency of up to 17.3%, significantly improving upon previous efficiencies and enabling mass production at a lower cost while maintaining stability.
Implementation Method 1
the solar cell means a cell generating current-voltage using a photovoltaic effect that the cell absorbs light energy from the solar lights to generate electrons and holes
Implementation Method 2
When dye molecules chemically adsorbed on surfaces of the porous photoanodes absorb solar light, the dye molecules generate electron-hole pairs
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a solar cell including: a first electrode; a composite layer positioned on the first electrode and including a light absorber impregnated thereinto; a light absorption structure positioned on the composite layer and composed of a light absorber; a hole conductive layer positioned on the light absorption structure; and a second electrode positioned on the hole conductive layer.