MSGID: 1:317/3 64797074   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Record 19.31% efficiency with organic solar cells    
      
     Date:   
         June 1, 2023   
     Source:   
         The Hong Kong Polytechnic University   
     Summary:   
         Researchers have achieved a breakthrough power-conversion efficiency   
         (PCE) of 19.31% with organic solar cells (OSCs), also known as   
         polymer solar cells. This remarkable binary OSC efficiency will   
         help enhance applications of these advanced solar energy devices.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
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   Researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have   
   achieved a breakthrough power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.31%   
   with organic solar cells (OSCs), also known as polymer solar cells. This   
   remarkable binary OSC efficiency will help enhance applications of these   
   advanced solar energy devices.   
      
   The PCE (Power-conversion efficiency), a measure of the power generated   
   from a given solar irradiation, is considered a significant benchmark   
   for the performance of photovoltaics (PVs), or solar panels, in power   
   generation. The improved efficiency of over 19% that was achieved by   
   the PolyU researchers constitutes a record for binary OSCs, which have   
   one donor and one acceptor in the photo-active layer.   
      
   Led by Prof. LI Gang, Chair Professor of Energy Conversion Technology   
   and Sir Sze-Yen Chung Endowed Professor in Renewable Energy at PolyU,   
   the research team invented a novel OSC morphology-regulating technique   
   by using 1,3,5- trichlorobenzene as a crystallisation regulator. This   
   new technique boosts OSC efficiency and stability.   
      
   The team developed a non-monotonic intermediated state manipulation (ISM)   
   strategy to manipulate the bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) OSC morphology,   
   which simultaneously optimises crystallisation dynamics and energy   
   loss of non- fullerene OSCs. Unlike the strategy of using traditional   
   solvent additives, which is based on excessive molecular aggregation in   
   films, the ISM strategy promotes the formation of more ordered molecular   
   stacking and favourable molecular aggregation. As a result, the PCE was   
   considerably increased and the undesirable non-radiative recombination   
   loss was reduced. Notably, non- radiative recombination lowers the light   
   generation efficiency and increases the heat loss.   
      
   The research team's findings are described in the study "19.3% Binary   
   Organic Solar Cell and Low Non-Radiative Recombination Enabled by   
   Non-Monotonic Intermediate State Transition" published in Nature   
   Communications . The conversion of solar energy to electricity is an   
   essential technology for achieving a sustainable environment. Although   
   OSCs are promising devices that harness solar energy cost-effectively,   
   their efficiency must be improved if they are to be used widely in   
   practical applications.   
      
   Non-fullerene acceptors based organic solar cells represent the   
   frontier of research in the field of organic photovoltaics due to both   
   the materials and morphology manipulation innovations. Nevertheless,   
   non-radiative recombination loss suppress and performance boosting are   
   in the centre of organic cell research.   
      
   Prof. Li said, "Challenges in research came from the existing   
   additive-based benchmark morphology control methods, which suffer from   
   non-radiative recombination loss, thus lowering the open-circuit voltage   
   due to excessive aggregation." The research team took about two years to   
   devise a non-monotonic ISM strategy for increasing the OSC efficiency   
   and lowering the non-radiative recombination loss. The publication of   
   the study promises to galvanise OSC research.   
      
   Prof. Li said, "The new finding will make OSC research an exciting field,   
   and this will likely create tremendous opportunities in applications like   
   portable electronics and building-integrated PVs." The new door will   
   open when low cost single-junction OSCs can achieve a PCE of over 20%,   
   along with more stable performance and other unique advantages such as   
   flexibility, transparency, stretchability, low weight and tuneable colour.   
      
   Prof. Li has been recognised as a Highly Cited Researcher 9 years in   
   a row since 2014, which testifies to his significant impact on global   
   research. His pioneering contributions to research on polymer solar cells   
   since 2005 have brought sustainable influence on printable solar energy   
   development with global recognition.   
      
   Underpinning the research on OPV field, Prof LI's study titled,   
   "High- efficiency solution processable polymer photovoltaic cells by   
   self-organization of polymer blends," was published on Nature Materials   
   in 2005. This represented OPV's first generation research breakthrough   
   which has fuelled solar technology from this frontier study.   
      
   In 2010, Prof LI's study titled "For the Bright Future -- Bulk   
   Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells with Power Conversion Efficiency of   
   7.4%" was published on Advanced Materials.   
      
   Prof. Li said, "The latest study shows a record low non-radiative   
   recombination loss of 0.168 eV in a binary OSC with a PCE of over   
   19%. This is a very encouraging result for the long-standing research   
   on OSCs that I have conducted over the past two decades. We have already   
   achieved better OSC efficiency, and this will subsequently help accelerate   
   the applications of solar energy."  References: Nature Materials 4,   
   864-868 (2005). High-efficiency solution processable polymer photovoltaic   
   cells by self-organization of polymer blends.   
      
   Advanced Materials Vol. 22, Issue 20 (2010). For the Bright Future --   
   Bulk Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells with Power Conversion Efficiency   
   of 7.4%.   
      
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             o Solar_cell o Solar_power o Solar_panel o Renewable_energy   
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             o History_of_Earth   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by   
   The_Hong_Kong_Polytechnic_University. Note: Content may be edited for   
   style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Jiehao Fu, Patrick W. K. Fong, Heng Liu, Chieh-Szu Huang, Xinhui Lu,   
         Shirong Lu, Maged Abdelsamie, Tim Kodalle, Carolin M. Sutter-Fella,   
         Yang Yang, Gang Li. 19.31% binary organic solar cell and low   
         non-radiative recombination enabled by non-monotonic intermediate   
         state transition.   
      
         Nature Communications, 2023; 14 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37526-5   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230601160241.htm   
      
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