We develop a framework to understand the performance of tandem organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells consisting of a series-connected stack of an arbitrary number of sub-cells. The power conversion efficiency penalty, , is defined as the loss incurred when the tandem cell is at its maximum power point (MPP) but one or more sub-cells are not operating at their individual MPPs. To minimize , the current at the MPP for each sub-cell must be equal. We also develop a method to calculate the tandem cell spectral mismatch factor and fill factor, showing that they are related to both the fill factors and short circuit currents of all the constituent sub-cells. By including the current generated in the dark, exciton dissociation at the donor-acceptor heterojunction, and photoconductivity, along with current losses due to polaron-pair and bimolecular recombination, we simulate the operation of small molecule bilayer and mixed-layer sub-cells used in the tandem, and from these results derive the behavior of the integrated device. This analysis is used to understand and optimize tandem OPV cell performance.
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7 June 2013
Research Article|
June 04 2013
Understanding tandem organic photovoltaic cell performance
Brian E. Lassiter;
Brian E. Lassiter
1
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan
, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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C. Kyle Renshaw;
C. Kyle Renshaw
2
Department of Physics, University of Michigan
, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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Stephen R. Forrest
Stephen R. Forrest
1
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan
, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
2
Department of Physics, University of Michigan
, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
3
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan
, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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J. Appl. Phys. 113, 214505 (2013)
Article history
Received:
March 14 2013
Accepted:
May 13 2013
Citation
Brian E. Lassiter, C. Kyle Renshaw, Stephen R. Forrest; Understanding tandem organic photovoltaic cell performance. J. Appl. Phys. 7 June 2013; 113 (21): 214505. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4807910
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