SOLAR CELLS

• US 20100116312A1
• Filed: 10/05/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Inventors: Forrest, Stephen R., Uchida, Soichi, Peumans, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,466,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• 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 71/40 Thermal treatment, e.g. annealing in the presence of a solvent vapour
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/311 Phthalocyanine
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/621 Aromatic anhydride or imide compounds, e.g. perylene tetra-carboxylic dianhydride or perylene tetracarboxylic di-imide
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells

Abstract

Organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices are disclosed. The devises are thin-film crystalline organic optoelectronic devices capable of generating a voltage when exposed to light, and prepared by a method including the steps of: depositing a first organic layer over a first electrode; depositing a second organic layer over the first organic layer; depositing a confining layer over the second organic layer to form a stack; annealing the stack; and finally depositing a second electrode over the second organic layer.

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. An organic photosensitive optoelectronic device comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

a first organic layer and a second organic layer disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein a bulk heterojunction with an interpenetrating donor-acceptor network is formed between the first and second organic layers, said device prepared by the steps of;

(a) depositing a first organic layer over the anode;

(b) depositing a second organic layer over the first organic layer;

(c) depositing a confining layer over the second organic layer to form a stack;

(d) annealing the stack; and

(e) depositing a cathode over the second organic layer, wherein the device is capable of generating a voltage when exposed to light, wherein said confining layer prevents the formation of a rough surface morphology while allowing formation of said bulk heterojunction between the first and second organic layers during said annealing step.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the first and second layers comprise materials selected from the group comprising polymers and small molecules.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the device has an external power conversion efficiency of at least about 1.0%.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein the device is at least 25% more efficient than a device prepared conventionally.

34. The device of claim 30, further comprising:

a first reflective layer;

a transparent insulating layer;

the anode being a transparent electrode layer and provided adjacent the transparent insulating layer;

the bulk heterojunction adjacent the transparent electrode; and

the cathode that is reflective, wherein the two reflective surfaces are parallel planar surfaces forming a waveguide.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the first organic layer is an acceptor layer, the second organic layer is a donor layer, and further comprising an exciton blocking layer disposed between the two parallel planar reflective surfaces which form a waveguide.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein one of the two reflective surfaces has an aperture to admit light incident upon the device.

37. The device of claim 30, further comprising an anode smoothing layer provided between the anode and the donor layer.

38. A stacked organic photosensitive optoelectronic device comprising a plurality of photosensitive optoelectronic subcells, wherein at least one such subcell is the device of claim 30.

39. An organic photosensitive optoelectronic device comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

a first organic layer and a second organic layer disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein a bulk heterojunction with an interpenetrating donor-acceptor network is formed between the first and second organic layers, said device prepared by the steps of;

(a) depositing a first organic layer over the anode;

(b) depositing a second organic layer over the first organic layer;

(c) depositing a confining layer over the second organic layer to form a stack;

(d) annealing the stack;

(e) removing the confining layer; and

(e) depositing a cathode over the second organic layer, wherein the device is capable of generating a voltage when exposed to light, wherein said confining layer prevents the formation of a rough surface morphology while allowing formation of said bulk heterojunction between the first and second organic layers during said annealing step.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the first and second layers comprise materials selected from the group comprising polymers and small molecules.

41. The device of claim 39, wherein the device has an external power conversion efficiency of at least about 1.0%.

42. The device of claim 39, wherein the device is at least 25% more efficient than a device prepared conventionally.

43. The device of claim 39, further comprising:

a first reflective layer;

a transparent insulating layer;

the anode being a transparent electrode layer and provided adjacent the transparent insulating layer;

the bulk heterojunction adjacent the transparent electrode; and

the cathode that is reflective, wherein the two reflective surfaces are parallel planar surfaces forming a waveguide.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the first organic layer is an acceptor layer, the second organic layer is a donor layer, and further comprising an exciton blocking layer disposed between the two parallel planar reflective surfaces which form a waveguide.

45. The device of claim 43, wherein one of the two reflective surfaces has an aperture to admit light incident upon the device.

46. The device of claim 39, further comprising an anode smoothing layer provided between the anode and the donor layer.

47. A stacked organic photosensitive optoelectronic device comprising a plurality of photosensitive optoelectronic subcells, wherein at least one such subcell is the device of claim 39.