Scalable semitransparent organic solar cells with robust film thickness tolerance for building-integrated photovoltaics.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41708612.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-69537-3 and PMC identifier 13031838.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) is a promising application for semitransparent organic solar cells (ST-OSCs). However, conventional ultra-thin (<80 nm) active layers for ST-OSCs, while balancing transmittance and efficiency, limit the cell-to-module efficiency remaining ratio (CTM) below 56%. Here, we achieve high semitransparency and efficiency in ST-OSCs with reasonable active layer thickness by manipulating the aggregation of acceptors in various donor-diluted blends processed with non-halogen solvent in ambient air. Using PM6:Qx-p-4Cl as a model system, we elucidate a unique film-formation mechanism and charge generation process, demonstrating that the fiber network and suitable aggregation size are crucial for ensuring higher performance in donor-diluted ST-OSCs. The 1 cm<sup>2</sup> donor-diluted ST-OSCs with active layer thicknesses of 119 and 301 nm exhibit high light utilization efficiencies (LUEs) of 4.04% and 3.02%, respectively. Notably, a 100 cm<sup>2</sup> module demonstrates a CTM ratio of ~85% and a LUE of 3.32%, owing to its high film thickness tolerance, setting a new benchmark for large-area semitransparent modules. Furthermore, we demonstrate the feasibility of BIPVs in terms of power generation, energy storage, and temperature control through a scale-down model with a 600 cm<sup>2</sup> power-generating window. These results reveal promising prospects for ST-OSCs in real-world applications.