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Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells
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Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A2: Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2021) | Viewed by 25718

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jaemin Kong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
Interests: polymer solar cells; perovskite solar cells; mxene; batteries
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

The Guest Editor is inviting submissions for a Special Issue of Energies on the subject area of “Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells".

Polymer solar cells were considered a unique alternative to traditional inorganic solar cells until the sudden emergence of perovskite solar cells. A perovskite boom has occupied most researchers working on photovoltaics, even including polymer solar cells, leading to a drastic efficiency increase from 10% to 25% within the last 10 years. With the great success of perovskite solar cells, polymer solar cells have appeared to fade from core research areas. In 2017, an unexpected counter-attack surprisingly came from polymer solar cells with an unprecedentedly high efficiency of 13% at the time, and the efficiency keeps increasing, now reaching over 16%, which sheds new light on the polymer solar cell area, attracting again the researchers who moved to perovskite solar cell area. In this Special Issue, we would focus on any relevant energy conversion applications based on organic and perovskite materials, which could promote mutual developments of both solar cell research areas. Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Organic solar cells
  • Polymer solar cells
  • Nonfullerene-based organic solar cells
  • Nonfullerene-based polymer solar cells
  • All polymer solar cells
  • Organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells
  • Inorganic perovskite solar cells
  • Tandem solar cells
  • Hybrid tandem solar cells
  • Multi-junction solar cells
  • Solar cell modules
  • Large area solar cells
  • Multi-functional devices
  • Integrated devices

Dr. Jaemin Kong
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • organic solar cells
  • polymer solar cells
  • perovskite solar cells
  • tandem solar cells
  • module solar cells

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 173 KiB  
Editorial
Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells
by Jaemin Kong
Energies 2022, 15(2), 615; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15020615 - 16 Jan 2022
Viewed by 1207
Abstract
This special issue was designed to draw attention to photovoltaic technology, which harnesses sunlight—the most promising renewable energy source—for our sustainable future [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

14 pages, 1953 KiB  
Article
Modeling Solar Cells Operating at Waste Light
by Krzysztof Górecki, Jacek Dąbrowski and Ewa Krac
Energies 2021, 14(10), 2871; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14102871 - 16 May 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2107
Abstract
The article concerns the investigations of solar cells irradiated by waste light. The measurement method and instruments used are presented. Using this method, the spectra of the light emitted by different light sources are presented and the results of measurements of sensitivity characteristics [...] Read more.
The article concerns the investigations of solar cells irradiated by waste light. The measurement method and instruments used are presented. Using this method, the spectra of the light emitted by different light sources are presented and the results of measurements of sensitivity characteristics of the selected solar cell are shown. On the basis of the obtained results of the measurements, a new model of a solar cell dedicated for SPICE is formulated. In this model, an influence of spectrum characteristics of the modeled solar cell on its photocurrent is taken into account. The correctness of this model is verified experimentally for all the considered lighting sources. It is proved that photocurrent is the highest for irradiation using a classical bulb, whereas it is the lowest for a fluorescent lamp. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells)
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10 pages, 4171 KiB  
Article
Polymer Additive Assisted Fabrication of Compact and Ultra-Smooth Perovskite Thin Films with Fast Lamp Annealing
by Shoieb Shaik, Ziyou Zhou, Zhongliang Ouyang, Rebecca Han and Dawen Li
Energies 2021, 14(9), 2656; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14092656 - 6 May 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1877
Abstract
Perovskite solar cells (PVSC) have drawn increasing attention due to their high photovoltaic performance and low-cost fabrication with solution processability. A variety of methods have been developed to make uniform and dense perovskite thin films, which play a critical role on device performance. [...] Read more.
Perovskite solar cells (PVSC) have drawn increasing attention due to their high photovoltaic performance and low-cost fabrication with solution processability. A variety of methods have been developed to make uniform and dense perovskite thin films, which play a critical role on device performance. Herein, we demonstrate a polymer additive assisted approach with Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers to facilitate the growth of uniform, dense, and ultra-smooth perovskite thin films. Furthermore, a lamp annealing approach has been developed to rapidly anneal perovskite films using an incandescent lamp, resulting in comparable or even better device performance compared to the control hotplate annealing. The facile polymer additive assisted method and the rapid lamp annealing technique offer a clue for the large-scale fabrication of efficient PVSCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells)
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13 pages, 3143 KiB  
Article
A Hybrid Hole Transport Layer for Perovskite-Based Solar Cells
by Joseph Asare, Dahiru M. Sanni, Benjamin Agyei-Tuffour, Ernest Agede, Oluwaseun Kehinde Oyewole, Aditya S. Yerramilli and Nutifafa Y. Doumon
Energies 2021, 14(7), 1949; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14071949 - 1 Apr 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3254
Abstract
This paper presents the effect of a composite poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate PEDOT:PSS and copper-doped nickel oxide (Cu:NiOx) hole transport layer (HTL) on the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Thin films of Cu:NiOx were spin-coated onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) [...] Read more.
This paper presents the effect of a composite poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate PEDOT:PSS and copper-doped nickel oxide (Cu:NiOx) hole transport layer (HTL) on the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Thin films of Cu:NiOx were spin-coated onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates using a blend of nickel acetate tetrahydrate, 2-methoxyethanol and monoethanolamine (MEA) and copper acetate monohydrate. The prepared solution was stirred at 65 °C for 4 h and spin-coated onto the FTO substrates at 3000 rpm for 30 s in a nitrogen glovebox. The Cu:NiOx/FTO/glass structure was then annealed in air at 400 °C for 30 min. A mixture of PEDOT:PSS and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) (in 1:0.05 wt%) was spun onto the Cu:NiOx/FTO/glass substrate at 4000 rpm for 60 s. The multilayer structure was annealed at 130 °C for 15 min. Subsequently, the perovskite precursor (0.95 M) of methylammonium iodide (MAI) to lead acetate trihydrate (Pb(OAc)2·3H2O) was spin-coated at 4000 rpm for 200 s and thermally annealed at 80 °C for 12 min. The inverted planar perovskite solar cells were then fabricated by the deposition of a photoactive layer (CH3NH3PbI3), [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and a Ag electrode. The mechanical behavior of the device during the fabrication of the Cu:NiOx HTL was modeled with finite element simulations using Abaqus/Complete Abaqus Environment CAE. The results show that incorporating Cu:NiOx into the PSC device improves its density–voltage (J–V) behavior, giving an enhanced photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of ~12.8% from ~9.8% and ~11.5% when PEDOT:PSS-only and Cu:NiOx-only are fabricated, respectively. The short circuit current density Jsc for the 0.1 M Cu:NiOx and 0.2 M Cu:NiOx-based devices increased by 18% and 9%, respectively, due to the increase in the electrical conductivity of the Cu:NiOx which provides room for more charges to be extracted out of the absorber layer. The increases in the PCEs were due to the copper-doped nickel oxide blend with the PEDOT:PSS which enhanced the exciton density and charge transport efficiency leading to higher electrical conductivity. The results indicate that the devices with the copper-doped nickel oxide hole transport layer (HTL) are slower to degrade compared with the PEDOT:PSS-only-based HTL. The finite element analyses show that the Cu:NiOx layer would not extensively deform the device, leading to improved stability and enhanced performance. The implications of the results are discussed for the design of low-temperature solution-processed PSCs with copper-doped nickel oxide composite HTLs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells)
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12 pages, 1988 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Molecular Additives on the Lifetime of Carbon-Based Mesoporous Perovskite Solar Cells
by Rodolfo López-Vicente, José Abad, Javier Padilla and Antonio Urbina
Energies 2021, 14(7), 1947; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14071947 - 1 Apr 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1972
Abstract
Perovskite solar cells have progressed very steadily, reaching power conversion efficiencies (PCE) beyond 20% while also improving their lifetimes up to 10,000 h. A large number of cell architecture and materials for active, transporting and electrode layers have been used, either in blends [...] Read more.
Perovskite solar cells have progressed very steadily, reaching power conversion efficiencies (PCE) beyond 20% while also improving their lifetimes up to 10,000 h. A large number of cell architecture and materials for active, transporting and electrode layers have been used, either in blends or in nanostructured layers. In this article, a set of perovskite solar cells have been designed, fabricated and characterized with special focus on their lifetime extension. The inclusion of 5-amino-valeric acid iodide (5–AVAI) as interlayer in a methyl-amino lead-iodide (MAPI) perovskite solar cell has provided additional stability in cells with PCE > 10% and T80 = 550 h. Experiments for up to 1000 h with solar cells at maximum power point under continuous illumination with solar simulator have been carried out (1 kW/m2, AM1.5G, equivalent to more than six months of outdoor illumination in locations such as Southeast Spain, with an average irradiation of 1900 kWh/m2/year). The addition of molecular additives in the bulk active layer and ETL and carbon layers not only allows better carrier transport, but also increases the stability of the perovskite solar cell by reducing ion migration within the bulk MAPI and between the different layers. Engineered interfaces with ZrO2 between the TiO2 and carbon layers contribute to reducing degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells)
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11 pages, 2150 KiB  
Article
An N-type Naphthalene Diimide Ionene Polymer as Cathode Interlayer for Organic Solar Cells
by Roberto Sorrentino, Marta Penconi, Anita Andicsová-Eckstein, Guido Scavia, Helena Švajdlenková, Erika Kozma and Silvia Luzzati
Energies 2021, 14(2), 454; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14020454 - 15 Jan 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2535
Abstract
Polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on non-fullerene acceptors have the advantages of synthetic versatility, strong absorption ability, and high thermal stability. These characteristics result in impressive power conversion efficiency values, but to further push both the performance and the stability of PSCs, the [...] Read more.
Polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on non-fullerene acceptors have the advantages of synthetic versatility, strong absorption ability, and high thermal stability. These characteristics result in impressive power conversion efficiency values, but to further push both the performance and the stability of PSCs, the insertion of appropriate interlayers in the device structure remains mandatory. Herein, a naphthalene diimide-based cathode interlayer (NDI-OH) is synthesized with a facile three-step reaction and used as a cathode interlayer for fullerene and non-fullerene PSCs. This cationic polyelectrolyte exhibited good solubility in alcohol solvents, transparency in the visible range, self-doping behavior, and good film forming ability. All these characteristics allowed the increase in the devices’ power conversion efficiencies (PCE) both for fullerene and non-fullerene-based PSCs. The successful results make NDI-OH a promising cathode interlayer to apply in PSCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells)
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9 pages, 1423 KiB  
Communication
Carbazole Electroactive Amorphous Molecular Material: Molecular Design, Synthesis, Characterization and Application in Perovskite Solar Cells
by Diego Magaldi, Maria Ulfa, Sébastien Péralta, Fabrice Goubard, Thierry Pauporté and Thanh-Tuân Bui
Energies 2020, 13(11), 2897; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en13112897 - 5 Jun 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2170
Abstract
In perovskite photovoltaics (PSCs), the role of the hole transporting material (HTM) is highly important as it significantly influents to the global device’s performance and stability. Hole transporter ensures the extraction of hole at the perovskite/HTM interface and transport it towards the cathode. [...] Read more.
In perovskite photovoltaics (PSCs), the role of the hole transporting material (HTM) is highly important as it significantly influents to the global device’s performance and stability. Hole transporter ensures the extraction of hole at the perovskite/HTM interface and transport it towards the cathode. Thus, accurate molecular design affording to efficient and cost-effective HTM is of major interest. Small molecules having glass forming property is an attractive class as it can form morphologically stable thin film. Herein, a carbazole molecular glass bearing a polymerizable function was designed and synthetized. Its characteristics are suitable for application as HTM in PSCs. The preliminary photovoltaic application lead to device efficiency of 14–15% depending on the chemical composition of the perovskite employed. These promising results open the way to design new alternative molecular and polymeric HTMs suitable for solution processed hybrid solar cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells)
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Review

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18 pages, 8546 KiB  
Review
Photoemission Studies on the Environmental Stability of Thermal Evaporated MAPbI3 Thin Films and MAPbBr3 Single Crystals
by Ke Wang, Benjamin Ecker and Yongli Gao
Energies 2021, 14(7), 2005; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14072005 - 5 Apr 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3202
Abstract
Hybrid organic inorganic perovskites have been considered as a potential candidate for the next generational solar cell due to their outstanding optoelectronic properties and rapid development in recent years. However, the biggest challenge to prevent them from massive commercial use is their long-term [...] Read more.
Hybrid organic inorganic perovskites have been considered as a potential candidate for the next generational solar cell due to their outstanding optoelectronic properties and rapid development in recent years. However, the biggest challenge to prevent them from massive commercial use is their long-term stability. Photoemission spectroscopy has been widely used to investigate properties of the perovskites, which provide critical insights to better understand the degradation mechanisms. In this article, we review mainly our photoemission studies on the degradation processes of perovskite thin films and single crystals with different environmental factors, such as gases, water, and light by monitoring changes of chemical composition and electronic structure. These studies on the effects by different environmental parameters are discussed for the understanding of the stability issues and the possible solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells)
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27 pages, 5950 KiB  
Review
Halide Perovskite Single Crystals: Optoelectronic Applications and Strategical Approaches
by Yurou Zhang, Miaoqiang Lyu, Tengfei Qiu, Ekyu Han, Il Ku Kim, Min-Cherl Jung, Yun Hau Ng, Jung-Ho Yun and Lianzhou Wang
Energies 2020, 13(16), 4250; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en13164250 - 17 Aug 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6263
Abstract
Halide perovskite is one of the most promising semiconducting materials in a variety of fields such as solar cells, photodetectors, and light-emitting diodes. Lead halide perovskite single crystals featuring long diffusion length, high carrier mobility, large light absorption coefficient and low defect density, [...] Read more.
Halide perovskite is one of the most promising semiconducting materials in a variety of fields such as solar cells, photodetectors, and light-emitting diodes. Lead halide perovskite single crystals featuring long diffusion length, high carrier mobility, large light absorption coefficient and low defect density, have been attracting increasing attention. Fundamental study of the intrinsic nature keeps revealing the superior optoelectrical properties of perovskite single crystals over their polycrystalline thin film counterparts, but to date, the device performance lags behind. The best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of single crystal-based solar cells is 21.9%, falling behind that of polycrystalline thin film solar cells (25.2%). The oversized thickness, defective surfaces, and difficulties in depositing functional layers, hinder the application of halide perovskite single crystals in optoelectronic devices. Efforts have been made to synthesize large-area single crystalline thin films directly on conductive substrates and apply defect engineering approaches to improve the surface properties. This review starts from a comprehensive introduction of the optoelectrical properties of perovskite single crystals. Then, the synthesis methods for high-quality bulk crystals and single-crystalline thin films are introduced and compared, followed by a systematic review of their optoelectronic applications including solar cells, photodetectors, and X-ray detectors. The challenges and strategical approaches for high-performance applications are summarized at the end with a brief outlook on future work. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer and Perovskite Solar Cells)
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