Search

Following the rapid increase of organic metal halide perovskites toward commercial application in thin-film solar cells, inorganic alternatives attracted great interest with their potential of longer device lifetime due to the stability improvement under increased temperatures and moisture ingress. Among them, cesium lead iodide (CsPbI3) has gained significant attention due to similar electronic and optical properties to methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3), with a band gap of 1.7 eV, high absorption coefficient, and large diffusion length, while also offering the advantage of being completely inorganic, providing a higher thermal stability and preventing material degradation. On a device level, however, it seems also essential to replace organic transport layers by inorganic counterparts to further prevent degradation. In addition, devices are mostly fabricated by spin coating, limiting their reproducibility and scalability; in this case, exploring all-evaporated devices allows us to improve the quality of the layers and to increase their reproducibility. In this work, we focus on the deposition of CsPbI3 by CsI and PbI2 co-evaporation. We fabricate devices with an all-inorganic, all-evaporated structure, employing NiO and TiO2 as transport layers, and evaluate these devices for both photodetector and solar cell applications. As a photodetector, low leakage current, high external quantum efficiency (EQE) and detectivity, and fast rise and decay times were obtained, while as a solar cell, acceptable efficiencies were achieved. These all-inorganic, all-evaporated devices represent one step forward toward higher stability and reproducibility while enabling large area compatibility and easier integration with other circuitry and, in future, the possible commercialization of perovskite-based technology. ispartof: ACS Applied Electronic Materials vol:3 issue:7 pages:3023-3033 ispartof: location:United States status: Published online

Image sensors are must-have components of most consumer electronics devices. They enable portable camera systems, which find their way into billions of devices annually. Such high volumes are possible thanks to the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) platform, leveraging wafer-scale manufacturing. Silicon photodiodes, at the core of CMOS image sensors, are perfectly suited to replicate human vision. Thin-film absorbers are an alternative family of photoactive materials, distinguished by the layer thickness comparable with or smaller than the wavelength of interest. They allow design of imagers with functionalities beyond Si-based sensors, such as transparency or detectivity at wavelengths above Si cutoff (e.g., short-wave infrared). Thin-film image sensors are an emerging device category. While intensive research is ongoing to achieve sufficient performance of thin-film photodetectors, to our best knowledge, there have been few complete studies on their integration into advanced systems. In this paper, we will describe several types of image sensors being developed at imec, based on organic, quantum dot, and perovskite photodiode and show their figures of merit. We also discuss the methodology for selecting the most appropriate sensor architecture (integration with thin-film transistor or CMOS). Application examples based on imec proof-of-concept sensors are demonstrated to showcase emerging use cases.

The next generation of tunable photonics requires highly conductive and light inert interconnects that enable fast switching of phase, amplitude, and polarization modulators without reducing their efficiency. As such, metallic electrodes should be avoided, as they introduce significant parasitic losses. Transparent conductive oxides, on the other hand, offer reduced absorption due to their high bandgap and good conductivity due to their relatively high carrier concentration. Here, we present a metamaterial that enables electrodes to be in contact with the light active part of optoelectronic devices without the accompanying metallic losses and scattering. To this end, we use transparent conductive oxides and refractive index matched dielectrics as the metamaterial constituents. We present the metamaterial construction together with various characterization techniques that confirm the desired optical and electrical properties.

High voltage cathodes suffer from degradation phenomena that are challenging to be observed and identified during cell operation. Dense and smooth sputtered thin films electrodes with absence of binders and conductive additives allow a direct study of the active material upon Li insertion and extraction at surface and bulk. Using an operando spectroscopic ellipsometry set-up combined with a customized electrochemical-optical cell (EC-SE), the evolution of the optical absorption and thickness of LiMn2O4 and LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 thin-film electrodes was monitored upon cycling. Mixed Mn3+/4+ valence in the electrodes and evident layer dissolution associated to Transition Metal (TM) dissolution in the non-aqueous electrolyte at the applied polarization potentials was observed. Our results reaffirm EC-SE as a convenient method to study degradation phenomena in cobalt-free transition metal oxide electrodes.

The black perovskite phase of CsPbI

Device optimization of light-emitting diodes targets the most efficient conversion of electrically injected charges into emitted light. Where charges recombine and where light is emitted from is known as the emission zone. Determining its form is key to better understanding the physical processes determining device performance. However, a thorough measurement study has not been shown. Here we present an accessible technique to visualize the emission zone in unprecedented detail at all luminescing current densities. Only a single emission spectrum must be measured (at normal direction to the device layers with no additional optics) and compared with the simulated emission spectrum. This method allows physical understanding based, instead of speculative, optimisation of LED device architectures. We demonstrate its impact by examining the device structure – emission zone – lifetime relationships of a thermally activated delayed fluorescence OLED to achieve an ultralong 4500 hour T95 lifetime at 1000 cd/m2 with 20% external quantum efficiency.

Device optimization of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) targets the most efficient conversion of electrically injected charges into emitted light. The emission zone in an LED is where charges recombine and light is emitted from. It is believed that the emission zone is strongly linked to device efficiency and lifetime. However, the emission zone size is below the optical diffraction limit, so it is difficult to measure. An accessible method based on a single emission spectrum that enables emission zone measurements with sub-second time resolution is shown. A procedure is introduced to study and control the emission zone of an LED system and correlate it with device performance. A thermally activated delayed fluorescence organic LED emission zone is experimentally measured over all luminescing current densities, while varying the device structure and while ageing. The emission zone is shown to be finely controlled by emitter doping because electron transport via the emitter is the charge-transport bottleneck of the system. Suspected quenching/degradation mechanisms are linked with the emission zone changes, device structure variation, and ageing. Using these findings, a device with an ultralong 4500 h T95 lifetime at 1000 cd m-2 with 20% external quantum efficiency is shown. ispartof: ADVANCED MATERIALS vol:34 issue:29 ispartof: location:Germany status: published

ispartof: ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS vol:10 issue:15 status: published

ispartof: ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS vol:9 issue:15 status: published

Thin‐film photovoltaic technology, based on hybrid metal halide perovskites, has achieved 25.2% and 16.1% certified power conversion efficiencies for solar cell and solar module devices, respectively. Still, the gap between power conversion efficiency of small area solar cells and large area solar modules is greater than for any other photovoltaic technology. Analysis of loss mechanisms in n‐i‐p solution processed devices defined layer inhomogeneity loss and inactive area loss as the two most prominent loss mechanisms in upscaling. In this study, we focus on minimizing inactive area loss. We analyze the point contact interconnections design and demonstrate it on perovskite thin‐film solar modules to achieve a geometrical fill factor of up to 99%. Numerical and analytical simulations are utilized to optimize interconnections and solar module design and balance inactive area loss, series resistance loss, and contact resistance loss.

We provide insight into the driving mechanisms and requirements to create an electro-optic spatial light modulator based on a Barium Titanate waveguide and an optically transparent electrode cladding layer. This cladding is made from alternating pillars of transparent conductive oxides and index matched dielectrics. We have developed a generic framework of electric field simulations and non-linear optics to create any desired modulation in an area of interest, applicable for liquid crystals, Pockels and Kerr cells. Targeting our device structure, we have evaluated several design parameters of the arbitrarily reprogrammable SLM, capable of optical beamforming and high-quality holograms. ispartof: Proceedings Volume 11484, Optical Modeling and Performance Predictions XI; 114840D (2020) vol:11484 ispartof: Proc SPIE :Optical Modeling and Performance Predictions XI location:(online only) date:24 Aug - 4 Sep 2020 status: Published online

The reproducibility of results is one of the corner stones of scientific research. However, in emerging technologies, the reported results often tend to be sensitive to the chosen measurement protocol. This can stem from measurement artifacts or from unknown complex underlying phenomena. Metal halide perovskites have emerged as an exciting material system for optoelectronic devices. The anomalous hysteresis in the current density-voltage (J-V) characteristics of perovskite solar cells has triggered wide discussions on how to report their power conversion efficiency (PCE) to achieve consistency between different research groups. However, less attention is so far given to the anomalous effects that can affect the reporting of the characteristics of perovskite light emitting diodes (PeLEDs). Here, we show that even for PeLEDs with little J-V hysteresis, the transient response and hysteresis of electroluminescence (EL), likely caused by ion migration, heat accumulation and device degradation under electrical excitation, can lead to significantly different device characteristics depending on the measurement procedures for the same device. Therefore, we propose a method based on pulsed excitation that allows better reproducibility and interpretation of the measured device characteristics. Furthermore, we also provide suggestions on reporting PeLED characteristics, as input for further discussions in the scientific community. ispartof: Advanced Optical Materials vol:8 issue:23 status: Published online

Capacitive touchscreens are increasingly widespread, featuring in mobile phones and tablets, as well as everyday objects such as cars and home appliances. As a result, the interfaces are uniquely placed to provide a means of communication in the era of the Internet of Everything. Here we show that commercial touchscreens can be used as reader interfaces for capacitive coupled data transfer. The transfer of data to the touchscreen is achieved using a 12-bit thin-film capacitive radio frequency identification tag powered by a thin-film battery or a thin-film photovoltaic cell that converts light from the screen. The thin-film integrated circuit has a 0.8 cm2 on-chip monolithic antenna, employs 439 transistors, and dissipates only 31 nW of power at a supply voltage of 600 mV. The chip has an asynchronous data rate of up to 36 bps, which is limited by the touchscreen readout electronics. ispartof: NATURE ELECTRONICS vol:2 issue:12 pages:606-611 ispartof: location:England status: published

© 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry. Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells are potentially attractive, inexpensive solutions to surpass the power conversion efficiency limits of market-leading silicon solar cells. While such tandem solar cells have been demonstrated to reach high efficiencies, they require advanced light management to utilise the solar spectrum efficiently. Moreover, area upscaling with minimal optical losses is necessary to transfer the properties of lab scale devices to commercial scale products. Here, we demonstrate four-terminal perovskite-silicon tandem solar modules with efficient light management. With rigorous optical simulations of the complete tandem stack, we design light management concepts that minimise overall reflection and enhance complementary absorption of the subcells. The optical optimisation results in four-terminal tandem power conversion efficiencies of 25.3% on 0.13 cm2 and 23.9% on 4 cm2, both exceeding the stand-alone silicon solar cell power conversion efficiency of 23.0%. ispartof: ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE vol:11 issue:6 pages:1489-1498 status: published

Commercially available phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is crosslinked with 1,6-diazidohexane (DAZH), resulting in films resistant to common solvents used in perovskite solar cell processing. By using crosslinked PCBM as an interlayer and (HC(NH2)2)0.66(CH3NH3)0.34PbI2.85Br0.15 as the active layer, we achieve small area devices and modules with a maximum steady-state power conversion efficiency of 18.1% and 14.9%, respectively.

Low-cost solar technologies such as perovskite solar cells are not only required to be efficient, but durable too, exhibiting chemical, thermal and mechanical stability. To determine the mechanical stability of perovskite solar cells, the fracture resistance of a multitude of solution-processed organometal trihalide perovskite films and cells utilizing these films were studied. The influence of stoichiometry, precursor chemistry, deposition techniques, and processing conditions on the fracture resistance of perovskite layers was investigated. In all cases, the perovskites offered negligible resistance to fracture, failing cohesively below 1.5 J/m2. The solar cells studied featured these perovskites and a variety of organic and inorganic charge transporting layers and carrier-selective contacts. These ancillary layers were found to significantly influence the overall mechanical stability of the perovskite solar cells and were repeatedly the primary source of mechanical failure, failing at values below those measured for the isolated fragile perovskite films. A detailed insight into the nature of perovskite and perovskite solar cell fracture is presented and the influence of grain size, device architecture, deposition techniques, environmental variables, and molecular additives on these fracture processes is reported. Understanding the influence of materials selection, deposition techniques and processing variables on the mechanical stability of perovskite solar cells is a crucial step in their development.

ispartof: PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS vol:27 issue:8 pages:733-738 status: published

With the realization of highly efficient perovskite solar cells, the long-term stability of these devices is the key challenge hindering their commercialization. In this work, we study the temperature-dependent stability of perovskite solar cells and develop a model capable of predicting the lifetime and energy yield of perovskite solar cells outdoors. This model results from the measurement of the kinetics governing the degradation of perovskite solar cells at elevated temperatures. The individual analysis of all key current-voltage parameters enables the prediction of device performance under thermal stress with high precision. An extrapolation of the device lifetime at various European locations based on historical weather data illustrates the relation between the laboratory data and real-world applications. Finally, the understanding of the degradation mechanisms affecting perovskite solar cells allows the definition and implementation of strategies to enhance the thermal stability of perovskite solar cells. ispartof: ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES vol:11 issue:18 pages:16517-16526 ispartof: location:United States status: published

To guarantee a long lifetime of perovskite-based photovoltaics, the selected materials need to survive relatively hightemperature stress during the solar cell operation. Highly efficient ni-p perovskite solar cells (PSCs) often degrade at high operational temperatures due to morphological instability of the hole transport material 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis (N,N-di-p-methoxyphenyl-amine)9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD). We discovered that the detrimental large-domain spiro-OMeTAD crystallization is caused by the simultaneous presence of tert-butylpyridine (tBP) additive and gold (Au) as a capping layer. Based on this discovery and our understanding, we demonstrated facile strategies that successfully stabilize the amorphous phase of spiro-OMeTAD film. As a result, the thermal stability of n- i-p PSCs is largely improved. After the spiro-OMeTAD films in the PSCs were stressed for 1032 h at 85 degrees C in the dark in nitrogen environment, reference PSCs retained only 22% of their initial average power conversion efficiency (PCE), while the best target PSCs retained 85% relative average PCE. Our work suggests facile ways to realize efficient and thermally stable spiro-OMeTAD containing n-i-p PSCs. European Union's H2020 Program for research, technological development, and demonstration [764047]; Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences [CN18-15EE-01]; Research Foundation.Flanders (FWO)[G031416N]

Hybrid metal-halide perovskite-based thin-film photovoltaics (PVs) have the potential to become the next generation of commercialized PV technology with certified power conversion efficiencies reaching 24% on devices having 0.1 cm(2) area. Recent efforts in upscaling this technology result in an efficiency of 12.6% for 354 cm(2) modules. However, upscaling loss for perovskite-based PVs is higher than for any other PV technology. In this study, upscaling losses of devices with aperture area 0.1, 4, and 100 cm(2) are investigated, with a focus on layer inhomogeneities. Electroluminescence, dark lock-in thermography, microphotoluminescence spectroscopy, and electron spectroscopy are used to analyze and group layer inhomogeneities with a minimal size of 10 mu m and to compare loss mechanisms for radial and linear deposition techniques. Analysis results help to identify current processing pitfalls, where understanding and control of perovskite crystal formation plays the crucial role.

We report on a perovskite solar module with an aperture area of 4 cm2 and geometrical fill factor of 91%. The module exhibits an aperture area power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.6% from a current–voltage scan and 12.6% after 5 min of maximum power point tracking. High PCE originates in pinhole-free perovskite films made with a precursor combination of Pb(CH3CO2)2·3H2O, PbCl2, and CH3NH3I.

Photovoltaic cells and modules are exposed to partially rapid changing environmental parameters that influence the device temperature. The evolution of the device temperature of a perovskite module of 225 cm2 area is presented during a period of 25 days under central European conditions. The temperature of the glass-glass packaged perovskite solar module is directly measured at the back contact by a thermocouple. The device is exposed to ambient temperatures from 3 to 34 °C up to solar irradiation levels exceeding 1300 W m-2. The highest recorded module temperature is 61 °C under constant high irradiation levels. Under strong fluctuations of the global solar irradiance, temperature gradients of more than 3 K min-1 with total changes of more than 20 K are measured. Based on the experimental data, a dynamic iterative model is developed for the module temperature evolution in dependence on ambient temperature and solar irradiation. Furthermore, specific thermal device properties that enable an extrapolation of the module response beyond the measured parameter space can be determined. With this set of parameters, it can be predicted that the temperature of the perovskite layer in thin-film photovoltaic devices is exceeding 70 °C under realistic outdoor conditions. Additionally, perovskite module temperatures can be calculated in final applications. ispartof: GLOBAL CHALLENGES vol:2 issue:7 ispartof: location:Germany status: published

© 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry. Thin film perovskite photovoltaic devices combine high power conversion efficiencies with low weight, large area, high speed production capabilities and high versatility in form factor. With this paper, an additional feature is added to the device property portfolio: optical transparency. Results on translucent perovskite modules with selectively tuned levels of transparency are reported by applying the industrially established fabrication process of partial area ablation to high efficiency opaque devices. After process completion, the final devices consist of opaque areas that absorb the light, and transparent areas that permit neutral light transmission. We compare the effectiveness of using two active area removal techniques: mechanical scribing and laser ablation, and determine the factors that limit the maximum transparency and power conversion efficiency. Moreover, we show how the choice of the ablation method and design of the active area removal pattern affect and limit the maximum light utilization efficiency ratio that can be achieved with this fabrication process. The resulting 4 cm2 translucent modules cover a range of visible light transparency from 7 to 37% with a corresponding power conversion efficiency of 5 to 13%. ispartof: JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C vol:6 issue:12 pages:3034-3041 status: published

The TiO2 layer made by electron beam (e-beam) induced evaporation is demonstrated as an electron transport layer (ETL) in high efficiency planar junction perovskite solar cells. The temperature of the substrate and the thickness of the TiO2 layer can be easily controlled with this e-beam induced evaporation method, which enables the usage of different types of substrates. Here, perovskite solar cells based on CH3NH3PbI3−xClx achieve power conversion efficiencies of 14.6% on glass and 13.5% on flexible plastic substrates. The relationship between the TiO2 layer thickness and the perovskite morphology is studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Our results indicate that the pinholes in the thin TiO2 layer lead to pinholes in the perovskite layer. By optimizing the TiO2 thickness, perovskite layers with substantially increased surface coverage and reduced pinhole areas are fabricated, increasing overall device performance.

Cost-effective production of perovskite solar cells on an industrial scale requires the utilization of exclusively inexpensive materials. However, to date, highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells rely on expensive gold electrodes since other metal electrodes are known to cause degradation of the devices. Finding a low-cost electrode that can replace gold and ensure both efficiency and long-term stability is essential for the success of the perovskite-based solar cell technology. In this work, we systematically compare three types of electrode materials: multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), alternative metals (silver, aluminum, and copper), and transparent oxides [indium tin oxide (ITO)] in terms of efficiency, stability, and cost. We show that multi-walled carbon nanotubes are the only electrode that is both more cost-effective and stable than gold. Devices with multi-walled carbon nanotube electrodes present remarkable shelf-life stability, with no decrease in the efficiency even after 180 h of storage in 77% relative humidity (RH). Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of devices with multi-walled carbon nanotube electrodes to achieve high efficiencies. These developments are an important step forward to mass produce perovskite photovoltaics in a commercially viable way. Published by AIP Publishing. The authors would also like to gratefully acknowledge Solliance for the financial support, the Initiating and Networking funding of the Helmholtz Association (HYIG of U. Paetzold), and the European Research Council (FP7 ERC StG HIENA - 337739 of M. de Volder). This research has received (partial) funding from the Flemish Government-Department of Economics, Science and Innovation.

We show an active artificial iris based on solely thin-film components, wherein several LCD elements are controlled a metal-oxide TFT and by powered by thin-film photovoltaics (TFPV). Key aspects for the driver are size and low power consumption. We demonstrate power consumption down to 25μW for the full iris.

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016. Transitioning perovskite photovoltaics from the rapid progress in lab-scale devices to industrially viable large area modules is a key challenge for the economic breakthrough of the technology. In this work, we demonstrate ultrasonic spray coating as a scalable and versatile linear deposition technique for high efficiency perovskite photovoltaics. We show the versatility of concurrently pumped ultrasonic spray coating by rapidly and precisely optimizing precursor ratios based on PbCl2, Pb(CH3CO2)2·3H2O, PbBr2, CH3NH3Br, and CH3NH3I to achieve highly crystalline and pinhole-free layers. Initial power conversion efficiencies of 15.7% for small scale devices and 11.7% for 3.8 cm2modules were achieved with current-voltage sweeps and tracked to 13.4% for devices and 10.4% for modules under continuous illumination and bias at the maximum power point. Process versatility is further demonstrated with the in situ bandgap control in CH3NH3PbIxBr3-xlayers. crosscheck: This document is CrossCheck deposited related_data: Supplementary Information copyright_licence: The Royal Society of Chemistry has an exclusive publication licence for this journal history: Received 25 January 2016; Accepted 4 February 2016; Accepted Manuscript published 4 February 2016; Advance Article published 15 February 2016; Version of Record published 1 March 2016 ispartof: Journal of Materials Chemistry A vol:4 issue:10 pages:3792-3797 status: published

Replacing toxic solvents with nonhazardous solvents is one of the key challenges for industrial scale commercialization of thin film perovskite photovoltaics. Here, nonhazardous solvent/alcohol/acid systems are presented for the single-step deposition of pinhole-free perovskite layers with combined lead halide precursors of Pb(CH3CO2)(2), 3H(2)O, PbCl2, and CH3NH3I. Comparable performance to standard hazardous inks is achieved: devices with 15.1% power conversion efficiency are demonstrated and maintain 13.5% tracked for 5 min at maximum power point. Blade coated 4 cm 2 solar modules fabricated with highest performing device ink attain 11.9% in power conversion efficiency. K.L.G. and J.G.T. contributed equally to this work. The work of K.L.G. was supported by the Roger Van Overstraeten Society. The work of J.G.T. was partially supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The work of U.W.P. was supported by the German Academic Exchange Service. This work has been partially supported by Solliance, a partnership of R&D organizations from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany working in thin film photovoltaic solar energy.

© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim Stability is one of the key challenges for industrial scale commercialization of perovskite solar cells. In this work, a degradation mechanism that depends on materials and bias conditions of the device during light-soaking is proposed. The observed degradation is linked to the additive 4-tert-butyl pyridine (tBP), crucial to the hole transport layer of most perovskite solar cells, and gold. This conclusion is reached through the statistical analysis of multiple compositional profiles of light-soaked and nonlight-soaked devices and by selective replacement of material layers of the device. Moreover, the rate of the light-induced degradation is enhanced by operation at forward bias, which is required for power generation. Thus, this work stresses the need for the development of transport layers that do not require tBP, and to replace gold to produce high-performing devices that are also stable under operating conditions. ispartof: ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS vol:8 issue:23 status: published

© 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. The charge carrier transport in thin film hybrid solar cells is analyzed and correlated with device performance and the mechanisms responsible for recombination loss. The hybrid bulk heterojunction consisted of a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and small size (2.4 nm) PbS quantum dots (QDs). The charge transport in the P3HT:PbS blends was determined by measuring the space-charge limited current in hole-only and electron-only devices. When the loading of PbS QDs exceeds the percolation threshold, a significant increase of the electron mobility is observed in the blend with PbS QDs. The hole mobility, on the other hand, only slightly decreased upon increasing the loading of PbS QDs. We also showed that the photocurrent is limited by the low shunt resistance rather than by space-charge effects. The significant reduction of the fill factor at high light intensity suggests that under these conditions the non-geminate recombination dominates. However, at open-circuit conditions, the trap-assisted recombination dominates over non-geminate recombination. ispartof: Journal of Applied Physics vol:117 issue:095503 pages:3-10 status: published

Multijunction solar cells employing perovskite and crystalline-silicon (c-Si) light absorbers bear the exciting potential to surpass the efficiency limit of market-leading single-junction c-Si solar cells. However, scaling up this technology and maintaining high efficiency over large areas are challenging as evidenced by the small-area perovskite/c-Si multijunction solar cells reported so far. In this work, a scalable four-terminal multijunction solar module design employing a 4 cm2 semitransparent methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite solar module stacked on top of an interdigitated back contact c-Si solar cell of identical area is demonstrated. With a combination of optimized transparent electrodes and efficient module design, the perovskite/c-Si multijunction solar modules exhibit power conversion efficiencies of 22.6% on 0.13 cm2 and 20.2% on 4 cm2 aperture area. Furthermore, a detailed optoelectronic loss analysis along with strategies to enhance the performance is discussed.

The authors present experimental results on mechanically stacked organic solar modules and their advantage over standard tandem architectures. A four-terminal configuration of two single junction modules with complementary absorbing active layers uses the more efficient energy conversion of a tandem structure without the necessity of matching currents or voltages of electrically connected subcells. The presented combination of semitransparent and opaque solar cells consists of solution processed polymer-fullerene blends as active materials. A cost-effective mechanical scribing process is applied for the patterning of the deposited layers. The best devices have an efficiency of over 6.5% on an aperture area of 16 cm2 which equals a gain of 30% over the best single junction module fabricated by the same process. Optical simulations demonstrate a 32% increased annual energy output of a mechanically stacked device in comparison to a monolithic tandem structure using an equivalent geometry. © 2013 SPIE.

A previously reported diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-phenyl copolymer is modified by adding methoxy or octyloxy side chains on the phenyl spacer. The influence of these alkoxy substitutions on the physical, opto-electronic properties, and photovoltaic performance were investigated. It was found that the altered physical properties correlated with an increase in chain flexibility. Well-defined oligomers were synthesized to verify the observed structure-property relationship. Surprisingly, methoxy substitution on the benzene spacer resulted in higher melting and crystallization temperatures in the synthesized oligomers. This trend is not observed in the polymers, where the improved interactions are most likely counteracted by the larger conformational possibilities in the polymer chain upon alkoxy substitution. The best photovoltaic performance was obtained for the parent polymer: fullerene blends whereas the modifications on the other two polymers result in reduced open-circuit voltage and varying current densities under similar processing conditions. The current densities could be related to different polymer: fullerene blend morphologies. These results show that supposed small structural alterations such as methoxy substitution already significantly altered the physical properties of the parent polymer and also that oligomers and polymers respond divergent to structural alterations made on a parent structure.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) usually exhibit a low light-outcoupling efficiency of only 20%. Typically, more than 30% of the available power is lost to surface plasmons (SPs). Consequently, the overall efficiency could be strongly enhanced by recovering SP losses. Therefore, three suitable techniques for extracting SPs-index coupling, prism coupling, and grating coupling-are discussed from a theoretical point of view and investigated experimentally in simplified OLED-like structures. The basic physical processes are clarified by systematic variations of the involved layer thicknesses and by excited state lifetime measurements. In addition, the analysis of the results is supported by optical simulations based on a dipole model. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of each method, their potential efficiency for recovering SP losses, as well as the applicability in OLEDs are compared.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) usually exhibit a low light outcoupling efficiency because a large fraction of power is lost to surface plasmons (SPs) and waveguide modes. In this paper it is demonstrated that periodic grating structures with almost µm-scale can be used to extract SPs as well as waveguide modes and therefore enhance the outcoupling efficiency in light-emitting thin film structures. The gratings are fabricated by nanoimprint lithography using a commercially available diffraction grating as a mold which is pressed into a polymer resist. The outcoupling of SPs and waveguide modes is detected in fluorescent organic films adjacent to a thin metal layer in angular dependent photoluminescence measurements. Scattering up to 5th-order is observed and the extracted modes are identified by comparison to the SP and waveguide dispersion obtained from optical simulations. In order to demonstrate the low-cost, high quality and large area applicability of grating structures in optoelectronic devices, we also present SP extraction using a grating structure fabricated by a common DVD stamp.

The authors report on color controllable white light emission from a unipolar organic light emitting transistor. We demonstrate light emission with two distinct peaks: a spectrally narrow blue emission from monomers and a yellow broadband emission created close to the interface of the organic film and SiO2. Due to the functionality of Mg/Au stacked electrodes, we are able to position the recombination zone via gate voltage control. Therefore, we are able to shift the spectral peak position and change the emission intensity independently by the drain voltage. The emission color is tunable from CIE coordinates (0.27, 0.28) to (0.40, 0.41).

The authors report on blue light emitting unipolar organic light emitting transistors (OLETs) with external quantum efficiency up to 0.2% by using multifunctional Mg/Au electrodes formed in combination with an efficient light emitting fluorene derivative. A mobility up to 6×10−6 cm2 V−1 s−1 has been achieved, which is comparable to previous results from time of flight mobility measurements. An anomalous light emission behavior is observed in unipolar OLETs. The phenomenon is discussed in light of the effects of electron injection and outcoupling efficiency, respectively. Our results show that the multifunctional electrodes are useful for implementing highly efficient unipolar OLETs.

Organometallic halide perovskites are non-epitaxial low-temperature semiconductors that show great promise in light-emission applications due to their favorable optoelectronic properties. Though high external quantum efficiencies exceeding 20% have been shown for perovskite LEDs, this is usually achieved at low current densities, and hence corresponds to low brightness. To reach high brightness, it is important to make strides in stability and quantum efficiency at high current density. In this work, we scale the active area of methylammonium lead iodide perovskite LEDs from 1000 μm in diameter down to tens of microns dimensions, relevant for emissive displays and laser devices that require high brightness. We systematically examine active-area-dependent perovskite LED performance from mA cm−2 up to kA cm−2 current density regimes by means of quasi-DC, DC, and sub-μs pulsed driving. For perovskite LEDs with diameters of 50 μm on glass substrates, we achieve T50 stability above 10 h under continuous operation at 500 mA cm−2 and above 5 h at 1000 mA cm−2, respectively. By using short electrical pulses, we significantly reduce the amount of dissipated thermal energy and show that this leads to reliable electrical operation up to 5 kA cm−2 for such small perovskite LEDs fabricated on sapphire substrates.

The perovskite solar cell is considered a promising candidate as the top cell for high-efficiency tandem devices with crystalline silicon (c-Si) bottom cells, contributing to the cost reduction of photovoltaic energy. In this contribution, a simulation method, involving optical and electrical modelling, is established to calculate the performance of 4-terminal (4T) perovskite/c-Si tandem devices on a mini-module level. Optical and electrical characterization of perovskite and c-Si solar cells are carried out to verify the simulation parameters. With our method, the influence of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer thickness of perovskite top cells on the performance of tandem mini-modules is investigated in case of both tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) and hydrogen-doped indium oxide (IO:H). The investigation shows that optimization of TCO layer thickness and replacement of conventional ITO with highly transparent IO:H can lead to an absolute efficiency increase of about 1%. Finally, a practical assessment of the efficiency potential for the 4T perovskite/c-Si tandem mini-module is carried out, indicating that with a relatively simple 4T tandem module structure the efficiency of a single-junction c-Si mini-module (19.3%) can be improved by absolute 4.5%.