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Optimal Morphology for a Composite Solar Cell

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

V. M. Burlakov ,
G. A. D. Briggs  and
A. P. Sutton
V. M. Burlakov
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
G. A. D. Briggs
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
A. P. Sutton
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
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Abstract

Charge transport in a composite solar cell (CSC) is analysed by considering independent and random migration of the photo-generated electrons/holes over interpenetrating conducting networks. It is shown that besides an interface area and the materials parameters the efficiency (average number of the carriers reaching the electrode per time unit) of the CSC depends on the effective dimensionality of the conducting channels. Our analysis shows that the 1-d network is ∼20% more effective than the 3-d one, and therefore the morphology of the 1-d type for the organic phase within a 3-d inorganic one is preferable for the CSC. It is shown that the CSC with bulk generation of excitons is potentially more efficient than a dye-sensitised solar cell. The highest efficiency of collection of photo-generated carriers for the CSC at highest possible current for the given material properties cannot exceed ∼40% and 34% for 1-d and 3-d networks respectively.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 708: Symposium BB – Organic Optoelectronic Materials, Processing and Devices , 2001 , BB10.41
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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References

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