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Flexible graphene electrode-based organic photovoltaics with record-high efficiency
Hyesung Park1, Sehoon Chang, Xiang Zhou
1Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and ‡Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
Flexible solar cells achieve record efficiencies using graphene electrodes. This breakthrough addresses stability issues with traditional materials, paving the way for advanced, durable optoelectronic devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Flexible solar cells require conductive and stable electrode materials.
- Indium tin oxide (ITO) faces challenges with chemical and mechanical instability.
- Graphene is a promising alternative for flexible transparent electrodes, but efficiency hurdles exist.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop high-efficiency flexible polymer solar cells (PSCs) using graphene electrodes.
- To overcome limitations of current graphene-based PSCs compared to ITO-based devices.
- To demonstrate the stability and potential of fully graphene electrode-based flexible solar cells.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of graphene anode- and cathode-based flexible PSCs.
- Thermal treatment of Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) electron blocking layer.
- Direct deposition of Zinc oxide (ZnO) electron transporting layer on graphene.
- Device testing on polyethylene naphthalate substrates under bending conditions.
Main Results:
- Achieved record power conversion efficiencies of 6.1% for graphene anode-based PSCs and 7.1% for graphene cathode-based PSCs.
- Demonstrated improved device performance through optimized MoO3 and ZnO layers.
- Confirmed device stability under various bending conditions.
Conclusions:
- Fully graphene electrode-based flexible PSCs can achieve high power conversion efficiencies.
- Optimized interfacial layers (MoO3 and ZnO) are crucial for high performance.
- The developed process is simple, reproducible, and suitable for stable, flexible solar cells.
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