δ-CS: A Direct-Band-Gap Semiconductor Combining Auxeticity, Ferroelasticity, and Potential for High-Efficiency Solar Cells

Improving solar cell efficiency using photonic band-gap materials

The potential of using photonic crystal structures for realizing highly efficient and reliable solar-cell devices is presented. We show that due their ability to modify the spectral and angular characteristics of thermal radiation, photonic crystals emerge as one of the leading candidates for frequencyand angular-selective radiating elements in thermophotovoltaic devices. We show that employing...

A benzotrithiophene - based low band gap polymer for polymer solar cells with high open - circuit voltage †

novel electron-rich fused aromatic unit, namely benzo[1,2-b:3,4b’:5,6-d’’]trithiophene (BTT), which holds promise as a building block for semiconductor materials. In comparison with the wellknown benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b’]dithiophene (BDT), quantumchemical calculations (B3LYP/6-31G*) predict the BTT unit to 40 be of similar donor strength. Thus, with R being alkyl chains, BTT is predicted to act as a ...

Increased efficiency of low band gap polymer solar cells at elevated temperature and its origins

Light trapping design for low band-gap polymer solar cells.

We demonstrate numerically a 2-D nanostructured design for light trapping in a low band-gap polymer solar cell. Finite element method simulations are used to study the effect of varying nanostructure periodicity, height, and shape on active layer absorption. Maintaining a constant active layer thickness of 100 nm we observe an enhancement in solar absorption of almost 40% relative to a planar c...

Germaindacenodithiophene based low band gap polymers for organic solar cells.

We report the first synthesis of a fused germaindacenodithiophene monomer and its polymerisation with 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole by Suzuki polycondensation. The resulting polymer, PGeTPTBT, is semicrystalline, despite the presence of four bulky 2-ethylhexyl groups. Blends with P(70)CBM afford solar cells with efficiencies of 5.02%.