Efficiency World Record Set For Organic Solar Modules
A research team from Nuremberg and Erlangen has set a new record for the conversion efficiency of organic photovoltaic modules (OPV). The scientists of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), the Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research (ZAE) and the Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energies (HI ERN), a branch office of Forschungszentrum Jülich, constructed in cooperation with The South China University of Technology (SCUT), an OPV module that achieves an efficiency of 12.6 percent in an area of 26 square centimeters. The new world record surpasses the previous high of 9.7 percent by 30 percent.
This is the highest value ever reported for an organic photovoltaic module. It was confirmed by a certified calibrated measurement under standard test conditions in the independent certification laboratory of Fraunhofer ISE (Freiburg) in September 2019. The multicellular module was developed in the solar factory of the future at the Energy Campus Nuremberg (EnCN) in a coating laboratory with a unique megawatt pilot line for thin-film photovoltaics, which was designed and realized with the financial support of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs.
"This breakthrough shows that Bavaria is not only the leader in the expansion of photovoltaics, but also occupies a leading position in the development of future technologies," said Minister of State Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Development and Energy.
Organic solar cells usually consist of two different organic components, which bring about the required semiconductor properties. In contrast to conventionally used silicon, which is drawn from the melt in an energy-intensive manner, organic semiconductors can be applied directly from a solution to a carrier foil or a glass carrier.
On the one hand, this reduces manufacturing costs, and on the other hand, the use of flexible, lightweight materials enables new applications, for example in mobile devices or clothing, even if the efficiency is not yet comparable to that of conventional silicon solar cells.
"This milestone in research on organic semiconductors shows that the latest performance developments with certified cell efficiencies of over 16 percent are not limited to the laboratory scale, but can be scaled down to the module and prototype level," explains Prof. Christoph Brabec from FAU , Director at HI ERN and Scientific Director of the Solar Factory of the Future, a research group of ZAE Bayern.
Due to the design, the efficiency of complete photovoltaic modules is always slightly lower than that of the individual cell. For example, part of the module area is always inactive because this area is used to interconnect the single cells. As the area of the module increases, so does the loss due to the electrical resistance of the electrodes.
The record module consists of twelve cells connected in series and has a geometric fill factor of over 95 percent. This proportion of the module area actively contributes to power generation. In terms of active area, it even achieves an efficiency of 13.2 percent. The minimization of inactive areas was achieved by means of high-resolution laser structuring, as developed and optimized in recent years in the "solar factory of the future".
Technical specifications:
cell area | 26.129 cm 2 (+/- 0.026 cm 2 ) |
Efficiency / Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE) | 12.60% (+/- 0.19%) |
Open circuit voltage (V oc ) | 9,978 V (+/- 0.04 V) |
Short circuit current (I sc ) | 46.43 mA (+/- 0.65mA) |
Fill factor (FF) | 71.06% (+/- 0.38%) |
interconnection | 12 cells in series |
Geometric fill factor (GFF) | > 95.5% |
PCE relative to the active area of the module | 13.2% |
About The ZAE Bayern
The ZAE Bayern is a non-university research institute for applied energy research with approximately 180 employees, which receives institutional funding from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. In its central competence areas of renewable energies, energy storage and energy efficiency, ZAE Bayern combines material research, component development and system optimization in an interdisciplinary research approach. Researchers at the ZAE are working on thermal and electrochemical energy storage systems, energy-efficient processes, energy-optimized buildings, photovoltaics, nanomaterials, smart grids and cross-sectoral energy systems (electricity and heat / cold). With its two main locations in Würzburg and Garching near Munich as well as its two branch offices in Nuremberg and Hof, ZAE Bayern is present nationwide to offer customers complete innovation packages in the field of efficient and sustainable energy systems. Further information can be found on the Internet at www.zae-bayern.de.
About the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg
The Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), founded in 1743, is one of the largest universities in Germany with about 38,000 students, about 580 professors and more than 14,000 employees. In addition to the Cluster of Excellence "Engineering of Advanced Materials" (EAM) and the Graduate School "School of Advanced Optical Technologies" (SAOT), more than 40 coordinated programs are being funded by the DFG at the FAU.
The Friedrich Alexander University offers around 260 degree courses, including eight Bavarian Elite Master degree programs and about 50 with a decidedly international orientation. No other university in Germany can point to such a broad and interdisciplinary range of studies at all levels of qualification. Through university partnerships around the globe, the whole world is open to the students of the FAU already during their studies.
About Forschungszentrum Jülich
Forschungszentrum Jülich makes effective contributions to solving major societal challenges in the fields of information, energy and the bioeconomy. It focuses on the future of information technologies and processing, complex processes in the human brain, the transformation of the energy system and a sustainable bioeconomy. The research center continues to develop simulation and data science as a key method of research, using large, often unique, scientific infrastructures. It works cross-thematic and interdisciplinary and uses synergies between the research areas. With around 6,000 employees, Jülich, a member of the Helmholtz Association, is one of Europe's largest research centers.
Source: Forschungszentrum Jülich