Theoretical study of organic solar cells

• Main Author: Soon, Tian Hua
• Other Authors: Tang Xiaohong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/72021
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The conversion process of light from Sun or solar energy produced by the Sun into electrical energy through organic solar cells is different from the conventional inorganic solar cell. The process for organic solar cell have additional process stages in charge generation stage compared to inorganic solar cell. The conversion process for organic solar cell comprise of four important stages, which are “light absorption” at the initial stage by absorbing solar light energy through the active layer of the organic solar cell. Then second stage will be the “charge generation”, where organic solar cell convert solar energy is converted electrical charges through exciton formed during the process. The following stage will be the “charge transport”, where the dissociated charges is transported to the electrodes. Several losses may occur during the transportation due to the transportation medium which may eventually affect the cell overall efficiency and its performances. Final stages will be the “charge collection”. Where all charges are collected output as electrical energy through the cathode or anode at the interface to the load or battery depending on the application. The design, configuration and simulation of the organic solar cell usually is most critical step in determining the lifespan, characteristic, performance and efficiency of the exact organic solar cell manufactured. Some of the important aspect include in the number of layers, layers materials and layers thickness used for the organic solar cell. These important aspect must be carefully analyse, plan and simulation. Manufacturer or researcher usually compared the advantages and disadvantage impact on the solar cell as whole from the information they have collected during their analysation and simulation. Certain configuration may be beneficial to one or more process stages during the conversion of the solar energy into electrical energy but at the same time, it may also disadvantage to other process stages in the conversion which eventually reduce the solar cell efficiency, performance or lifespan.