Energetics and Kinetics Requirements for Organic Solar Cells to 2 Break the 20% Power Conversion Efficiency Barrier

Abstract

The thermodynamic limit for the efficiency of solar cells is predominantly defined by the energy bandgap of the used semiconductor. In case of organic solar cells both energetics and kinetics of three different species play role: excitons, charge transfer states and charge separated states. In this work, we clarify the effect of the relative energetics and kinetics of these species on the recombination and generation dynamics. Making use of detailed balance, we develop an analytical framework describing how the intricate interplay between the different species influence the photocurrent generation, the recombination, and the open-circuit voltage in organic solar cells. Furthermore, we clarify the essential requirements for equilibrium between excitons, CT states and charge carriers to occur. Finally, we find that the photovoltaic parameters are not only determined by the relative energy level between the different states but also by the kinetic rate constants. These findings provide vital insights into the operation of state-of-art non-fullerene organic solar cells with low offsets.

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Cited by in corpus (7)

• On the critical competition between singlet exciton decay and free charge generation in non-fullerene-based organic solar cells with low energetic offsets
• Conditions for efficient charge generation preceded by energy transfer process in non-fullerene organic solar cells
• Anticorrelated Photoluminescence and Free Charge Generation Proves Field-Assisted Exciton Dissociation in Low-Offset PM6:Y5 Organic Solar Cells
• PLQ-Sim: A Computational Tool for Simulating Photoluminescence Quenching Dynamics in Organic Donor/Acceptor Blends
• Triplet Excitons Reconcile Charge Generation and Recombination in Low-Offset Organic Solar Cells: Efficiency Limits from a 5-State Model
• Quantum Mechanical Assessment of Optimal Photovoltaic Conditions in Organic Solar Cells
• General Rules for the Impact of Energetic Disorder and Mobility on Nongeminate Recombination in Phase-Separated Organic Solar Cells