- Organic photovoltaic
Organic photovoltaic cells are
solar cell s made mostly oforganic molecule s. Specifically, the active layer of the device is made of organic material.Many scientists and engineers believe organic solar cells will provide a cheaper alternative to traditional inorganic cells, since it is thought that economies of scale due to large-scale production of organic polymers will turn out to be less expensive than the current costs for fabrication of silicon or other inorganic materials. However, organic solar cells have much lower efficiencies than traditional technologies. Organic solar cells are considered to be a third generation technology.
There are three main types of organic photovoltaic technologies: 1)
Molecular OPV , 2)Polymer OPV , and 3) Hybrid OPV. The main differences between these three technologies are the fabrication methods employed and the types of materials that are used. [Sun, Sam-Shajing & Sariciftci, Niyazi Serdar, (2005). Organic Photovoltaics: Mechanisms, Materials, and Devices. Boca Raton, Fl: CRC Press.]Molecular OPV
Molecular photovoltaic devices are typically fabricated by sublimating successive layers of electron and hole transporting materials under vacuum. Common materials include PTCBI, PTCDA, Me-PTCDI, Pe-PTCDI, H2Pc, MPc where M stands for (Zn, Cu), TPyP, TPD, CBP, C60, and
PCBM .Polymer OPV
Polymer OPV photovoltaic devices are typically made by solution processing blends of two conjugated polymers or a conjugated polymer with a molecular sensitizer. The most common materials are PPV -Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) ,polyfluorene s, orpolythiophene s. Polymer solar cells are the most heavily researched of all OPV technologies because they are the most promising when it comes to low cost. In general, it is thought that solution processing will be the most cost effective way to fabricate solar cells.Hybrid OPV
Hybrid photovoltaic devices make use of both organic and inorganic materials. For example, research has been done on polymer-nanocrystal blended active layers, including the use of quantum dots. Research has also been done on the use of metals such as TiO2. These technologies have not yet surpassed the best polymer OPV technology, but they are promising.
References
External links
* [http://www.princeton.edu/~pccm/outreach/REU2005/REU2005Presentations/gerardi.pdf Improving Organic Photovoltaic Cells]
*Dye-sensitized solar cell
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