Recent Advances in Organic Photovoltaics: Device Structure and Optical Engineering Optimization on the Nanoscale. Issue 12 (9th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luo, Guoping; Ren, Xingang; Zhang, Su; Wu, Hongbin; Choy, Wallace C. H.; He, Zhicai; Cao, Yong
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 12:Issue 12(2016)
• Page Start: 1547
• Page End: 1571
• Publication Date: 2016-02-09
• Subjects: optics -- organic photovoltaics -- photovoltaics -- nanostructures -- optical engineering; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201502775
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract : Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices, which can directly convert absorbed sunlight to electricity, are stacked thin films of tens to hundreds of nanometers. They have emerged as a promising candidate for affordable, clean, and renewable energy. In the past few years, a rapid increase has been seen in the power conversion efficiency of OPV devices toward 10% and above, through comprehensive optimizations via novel photoactive donor and acceptor materials, control of thin‐film morphology on the nanoscale, device structure developments, and interfacial and optical engineering. The intrinsic problems of short exciton diffusion length and low carrier mobility in organic semiconductors creates a challenge for OPV designs for achieving optically thick and electrically thin device structures to achieve sufficient light absorption and efficient electron/hole extraction. Recent advances in the field of OPV devices are reviewed, with a focus on the progress in device architecture and optical engineering approaches that lead to improved electrical and optical characteristics in OPV devices. Successful strategies are highlighted for light wave distribution, modulation, and absorption promotion inside the active layer of OPV devices by incorporating periodic nanopatterns/nanostructures or incorporating metallic nanomaterials and nanostructures. Abstract : Recent advances in organic photovoltaics are highlighted, with special attention on the progress in device architecture and the optical engineering approaches that lead to improved electrical and optical characteristics in these devices. In particular, various successful strategies for light wave distribution, modulation, and absorption promotion inside the devices by incorporating periodic nanopatterns/nanostructures or incorporating metallic nanomaterials and nanostructures are highlighted.