As an effective approach to resolve environmental pollution and energy crisis, organic solar cell is regarded as new-generation green energy technology with great industrial prospect. However, the relatively low carrier mobility of organic materials limited the thickness of active layer, which resulted in low photo-absorption efficiency. Currently, the rate for converting light into electricity has been increased to around 14%, but how to further increase it still remains a big problem for scientists.

 

Supported by National Key R&D Program, Researchers from Nankai University and National Center for Nanoscience and Technology used semi-empirical model to predict in theory the parameters required for actual highest efficiency and ideal active layer material of organic solar cell. Based on solution processing method featuring integration of low cost and industrialized production, the organic solar cell with a conversion rate of 17.3% was made. This was a new world record for conversion rate of organic/polymer solar cells. Having gone through tests for 166 consecutive days, the performance loss was only 4%.

 

The research provides a new way of thinking for basic research of organic solar cells and strong technical support for industrialization of such cells. On the Science Magazine of August 10, those research outcomes have been published.