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Semitransparent organic photovoltaics for building-integrated photovoltaic applications

Nature Reviews Materials volume 8, pages 186–201 (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

The narrow and intense absorption spectra of organic materials open up the opportunity to develop efficient organic photovoltaic devices that are qualitatively different from other, incumbent solar cell technologies. Their selective absorption spectra make them attractive for applications in power-generating windows that are semitransparent in the visible spectral range, yet absorb strongly in the invisible ultraviolet and infrared spectral bands, thereby providing a viable solution for the generation of clean energy. Here, we review recent progress in semitransparent organic photovoltaics for power windows and other building-applied uses, and discuss the potential strategies to endow them with a combination of high efficiency, visible transparency, neutral colour appearance, prolonged operational lifetime and low efficiency loss when scaled into modules. We also discuss the issues that need to be addressed to achieve further progress.

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Fig. 1: Energetics of semiconductors and the spectral properties of materials used in semitransparent organic solar cells.
Fig. 2: Structure of a semitransparent solar cell and comparison of the performances of semitransparent cells based on different materials.
Fig. 3: Photocurrent generation in organic solar cells.
Fig. 4: Electronic orbital properties of high-performance non-fullerene acceptors used in semitransparent organic photovoltaics.
Fig. 5: Crystal stackings of example non-fullerene acceptors used in semitransparent organic photovoltaics.
Fig. 6: Optical design of ST-OPVs.
Fig. 7: Design of highly stable semitransparent OPVs.
Fig. 8: Design and construction of semitransparent organic photovoltaics.

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Acknowledgements

Y.L., X.H. and H.K.M.S. acknowledge the support of the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy under Solar Energy Technologies Office Agreement no. DE-EE0008561. This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the US Government. Neither the US Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the US Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the US Government or any agency thereof. Y.L. and S.R.F. were also supported by the Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research under award no. N00014-17-1-2211, and Universal Display Corp. The authors thank K. Ding for discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Yongxi Li & Stephen R. Forrest

  2. Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Xinjing Huang, Hafiz K. M. Sheriff Jr & Stephen R. Forrest

  3. Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Stephen R. Forrest

  4. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Stephen R. Forrest

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  1. Yongxi Li
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Contributions

Y.L., X.H. and H.K.M.S. researched data for the article. Y.L., X.H., H.K.M.S. and S.R.F. wrote the article. All authors made a substantial contribution to the discussion of the content and edited the manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to Stephen R. Forrest.

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S.R.F. has an ownership interest in one of the sponsors of this research (Universal Display Corporation). This apparent conflict is under management by the University of Michigan’s Office of Research. The University of Michigan also has a licence agreement with Universal Display Corporation. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Glossary

BT-CIC

(8,15-dihexyloxyl-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-4,4,10,10-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-5,11-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-4,10-dihydrodithienyl[1,2-b:4,5b′]benzodithiophene-2,8-diyl)bis(2-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydroinden-5,6-dichloro-1-ylidene)malononitrile).

BT-IC

(8,15-dihexyloxyl-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-(5,5,12,12-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithienyl[1,2-b:4,5-b′]benzodithiophene-2,7-diyl)bis(2-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydroinden-1-ylidene)malononitrile).

DTDCTB

2-[[7-[5-[bis(4-methylphenyl)amino]-2-thienyl]-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl]methylene]propanedinitrile.

IDTIDT-IC

(3,8,11,16-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-thieno[2,3-d:5,6-d′]-di-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b′]dithiophene)bis(2-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydroinden-1-ylidene) malononitrile).

IT-IC

3,9-bis(2-methylene-(3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d:2′,3′-d′]-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b′]dithiophene).

IT-4F

(2-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydroinden-5,6-difluoro-1-ylidene)malononitrile)-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d:2′,3′-d′]-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b′]dithiophene).

PBDBT

Poly[(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene))-alt-(5,5-(1′,3′-di-2-thienyl-5′,7′-bis(2-ethylhexyl)benzo[1′,2′-c:4′,5′-c′]dithiophene-4,8-dione))].

PCE-10

Poly[4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-(4-(2-ethylhexyl)-3-fluorothieno[3,4-b]thiophene-)-2-carboxylate-2-6-diyl)].

PEDOT:PSS

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate.

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Li, Y., Huang, X., Sheriff, H.K.M. et al. Semitransparent organic photovoltaics for building-integrated photovoltaic applications. Nat Rev Mater 8, 186–201 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-022-00514-0

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