Journal Article

FZJ-2021-01039

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png The Influence of Photo‐Induced Space Charge and Energetic Disorder on the Indoor and Outdoor Performance of Organic Solar Cells

Beuel, S. ; Hartnagel, P.FZJ* ; Kirchartz, T. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2021
Wiley-VCH Verlag Weinheim

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/27404  doi:10.1002/adts.202000319

Abstract: Apart from traditional large‐scale outdoor application, organic solar cells are also of interest for powering small, off‐grid electronic devices indoors. For operation under the low light intensities that are typical for indoor application, a high shunt resistance is required calling for thick active layers in industrial processing to ensure maximum coverage. However, the thickness of an organic solar cell based on energetically disordered semiconductors is limited by space‐charge effects from charged shallow defects under nonuniform generation. While other sources of space charge such as doping and asymmetric transport have been extensively discussed in previous studies, this work offers a theoretical analysis of this photo‐induced space charge in shallow defects and visualizes how the space charge builds up with increasing light intensity with drift‐diffusion simulations. It is shown that the effect particularly deteriorates the performance of an organic solar cell with high active‐layer thickness and substantial energetic disorder. However, the simulations reveal that solar cells are less sensitive to these parameters under low light intensities due to a reduced density of photo‐induced space charge. Therefore, a wider range of material systems and absorber thicknesses can be viable for indoor applications than one may initially expect from testing under 1 sun illumination.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Photovoltaik (IEK-5)

Research Program(s):

1. 121 - Photovoltaik und Windenergie (POF4-121) (POF4-121)

Appears in the scientific report 2021

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DEAL Wiley ; Essential Science Indicators ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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