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The Limits to Organic Photovoltaic Cell Efficiency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Stephen R. Forrest
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Abstract

We consider the fundamental limits to organic solar cell efficiency, and the schemes that have been used to overcome many of these limitations. In particular, the use of double and bulk heterojunctions, as well as tandem cells employing materials with high exciton diffusion lengths, is discussed.We show that in the last few years, a combination of strategies has led to a power conversion efficiency of ηp = 5.7% (under AM 1.5 G simulated solar radiation at 1 sun intensity) for tandem cells based on small-molecularweight materials, suggesting that even higher efficiencies are possible.We conclude by considering the ultimate power conversion efficiency that is expected from organic thinfilm solar cells.

Keywords

organic photovoltaicssolar cell efficiency.
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Bulletin , Volume 30 , Issue 1: Technical Theme: Organic–Based Photovoltaics , January 2005 , pp. 28 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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