Rapid experimental optimization of organic tandem solar cells: 200 absorber layer thickness combinations on a 4×4 cm2 substrate

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Vol. 6; no. 19; pp. 9257 - 9263
• Main Authors: Glaser, Konstantin, Beu, Patrick, Bahro, Daniel, Sprau, Christian, Pütz, Andreas, Colsmann, Alexander
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Absorbers; Data points; Energy conversion efficiency; Fabrication; Optimization; Photoelectric effect; Photoelectric emission; Photovoltaic cells; Solar cells; Solar power; Substrates; Thickness
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/c8ta00590g

Due to the complex optical field, the optimization of layer thicknesses in organic tandem solar cells is a very time-consuming task which is commonly approached in an iterative sample-by-sample fabrication routine or by preliminary optical simulations. In this work, a facile and comprehensive experimental approach to determine optimized absorber layer thicknesses is presented. Both absorber layers are deposited with orthogonal thickness gradients. The spatially resolved mapping of the device's photocurrent produces more than 200 data points and allows the identification of the optimum layer thickness combination. This two-dimensional optimization process is benchmarked against sample-by-sample and one-dimensional sample optimization. All layers of the tandem solar cells were doctor bladed, eventually enabling the fabrication of a solar module with a photoactive area of 24 cm 2 comprising four monolithically connected solar cells, excelling with a power conversion efficiency of 5.2%. The spatially resolved characterization of organic tandem solar cells comprising two absorber layers with orthogonal thickness gradients produces the optimum layer thickness combination.