Photovoltaic cell

• US 20030159729A1
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konarka Austria Forschungs-Und Entwicklungs GmbH
• Inventors: Shaheen, Sean, Padinger, Franz, Brabec, Christoph, Fromherz, Thomas, Gloetzl, Erhard, Sariciftci, Sedar
• Granted Patent: US 6,812,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/263
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/211 comprising multiple junctions, e.g. double heterojunctions
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/30 comprising bulk heterojunctions, e.g. interpenetrating networks of donor and acceptor material domains
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/50 Photovoltaic [PV] devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/30 Doping active layers, e.g. electron transporting layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/113 Heteroaromatic compounds comprising sulfur or selene, e.g. polythiophene
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/1135 Polyethylene dioxythiophene [PEDOT]; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/215 comprising substituents, e.g. PCBM
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells

Abstract

A photovoltaic cell is described, having a photoactive layer (4) made of two molecular components, namely an electron donor and an electron acceptor, particularly a conjugated polymer component and a fullerene component, and having two metallic electrodes (2, 6) provided on both sides of the photoactive layer (4). In order to provide advantageous construction conditions, it is suggested that an intermediate layer (5) made of a conjugated polymer, which has doping corresponding to the electrode potential and, in regard to the electron energy, has a band gap between the valence band and the conduction band of at least 1.8 eV, be provided between the photoactive layer (4) and at least one electrode (2,6).

Claims

1. A photovoltaic cell having a photoactive layer (4) made of two molecular components, namely an electron donor and an electron acceptor, particularly a conjugated polymer component and a fullerene component, and having two metallic electrodes (2, 6) provided on both sides of the photoactive layer (4),

characterized in that an intermediate layer (5) made of a conjugated polymer, which has a doping corresponding to the electrode potential and, in regard to the electron energy, has a band gap between the valence band and the conduction band of at least 1.8 eV, is provided between the photoactive layer (4) and at least one electrode (2,6).

2. The photovoltaic cell according to claim 1,

characterized in that the intermediate layer (5) is made of a doped polythiophene derivate.