Ageing of organic photovoltaic devices in Benin environment (South-Sudanese climate)

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 117; pp. 93 - 97
• Main Authors: Agbomahena, Macaire, Douhéret, Olivier, Kounouhewa, Basile, Vianou, Antoine, Awanou, Norbert, Lazzaroni, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.10.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aging; Applied sciences; Benin; Climate; Degradation; Devices; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Encapsulation; Energy; Environment; Exact sciences and technology; Natural energy; Organic photovoltaic devices; P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction; Photoelectric conversion; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Solar radiation; Sustainable energy; Benin; Belgium; Europe; Africa; Degradation; Encapsulation; Environment; P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction; Organic photovoltaic devices; Sustainable energy; Performance evaluation; Fullerene compounds; Charge transport; Organic solar cells; Butyric acid; Photovoltaic cell; Ester; Thiophene derivative polymer; Humidity; Solar radiation; Optical absorption; Cost lowering; Damaging; Heterojunction; Ageing; Active layer; Standards; Solar cell; Manufacturing process; Development cost; Economic aspect
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2013.05.005

This study compares the ageing processes of standard P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cells upon exposure to a temperate (Belgium) and an equatorial (Benin) climate. Differences in degradation of non-encapsulated systems are attributed to humidity differences between the European and African environments. The decrease in the power efficiency is shown to be related to two processes: degradation of the optical absorption and charge transport in the active layer. The decrease of the absorption can be further accelerated upon light exposure. Rigid encapsulation tackles efficiently the degradation process under both climates. Devices fabricated in air yield almost similar performances that those fabricated in N2, confirming that the fabrication process can be carried out in simple environmental conditions. This supports the development of low-cost sustainable photovoltaic technologies in countries with limited economic resources but abundant solar radiation. •Air fabrication of P3HT:PCBM based bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic cells.•Analysis of degradation mechanisms.•Influence of the climate onto the degradation process.•Efficient device encapsulation.