Improved Photovoltaic Efficiency in Semiconducting Polymer/fullerene Solar Cells through Control of Fullerene Self-assembly and Stacking
- Technology Benefits
- Allows precise control over the morphology of the blended active layer Solution-based processing method with associated manufacturing cost advantages Compatible with other efficiency improving process
- Technology Application
- Improving efficiency in polymeric/organic solar cells Also applicable to polymeric/organic photodetectors, diodes, and FETs
- Detailed Technology Description
- Researchers at UCLA have identified a self-assembly method for arranging fullerene molecules that results in a 4X increase in solar cell energy conversion efficiency (current density; on average). This technique allows more control over the packing of individual molecules to provide for higher material densities that result in the improved efficiency.
- Supplementary Information
- Patent Number: US20090266416A1
Application Number: US2009419936A
Inventor: Tolbert, Sarah H. | Schwartz, Benjamin J. | Rubin, Yves | Halim, Merissa | Wanger, Darcy | Tassone, Christopher J. | Ayzner, Alexander L. | Kennedy, Robert D. | Day, Christopher
Priority Date: 8 Apr 2008
Priority Number: US20090266416A1
Application Date: 7 Apr 2009
Publication Date: 29 Oct 2009
IPC Current: H01L003100
US Class: 136256
Title: PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES INCLUDING SELF-ASSEMBLING FULLERENE DERIVATIVES FOR IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES
Usefulness: PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES INCLUDING SELF-ASSEMBLING FULLERENE DERIVATIVES FOR IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES
Summary: As photovoltaic device (claimed), for solar energy conversion.
Novelty: Photovoltaic device comprises active layer including self-assembled fullerene derivative between two electrode layers, which absorbs light to produce two charge carriers that are transported to the two electrode layers, respectively
- Industry
- Environmental/Green Technology
- Sub Category
- Solar Cell
- Application No.
- 9231214
- Others
-
State of Development
Solar cells have been manufactured and demonstrate improved performance.
Background
Polymeric solar cells based on fullerene and fullerene derivatives are a clean, renewable, and cheap energy source, however the efficiency does not yet rival that of silicon-based technologies. Previous work to increase the efficiency of these polymeric/organic solar cells focused on increasing the density of active material in the device area. This has previously been accomplished by enhancing the solubility of the fullerene molecules and subjecting the devices to thermal annealing. Both of these techniques lead to improved efficiency by controlling the arrangement of the molecules to provide better packing, yet neither completely solves the problem.
Additional Technologies by these Inventors
- Ordered Vertically Oriented Porous Inorganic Films Produced through Solution Processing
- Lithium Ion Batteries Based On Nanoporous Silicon
- Magnetoelectric Control of Superparamagnetism
- Space Confined Polymer-Based Field Effect Transistors
- Nanoporous Tin Powder For Energy Applications
- Robust Mesoporous Nife-Based Catalysts For Energy Applications
Tech ID/UC Case
20219/2008-662-0
Related Cases
2008-662-0
- *Abstract
-
Researchers at UCLA have developed a method for increasing the efficiency of polymeric/organic solar cells based on fullerenes and fullerene derivatives that utilize self-assembly to achieve very dense networks.
- *IP Issue Date
- Jan 5, 2016
- *Principal Investigator
-
Name: Alexander Ayzner
Department:
Name: Andrew Clark
Department:
Name: Simon Clavaguera
Department:
Name: Ian Craig
Department:
Name: Christopher Day
Department:
Name: Merissa Halim
Department:
Name: Robert Kennedy
Department:
Name: Yves Rubin
Department:
Name: Benjamin Schwartz
Department:
Name: Christopher Tassone
Department:
Name: Sarah Tolbert
Department:
Name: Darcy Wanger
Department:
- Country/Region
- USA
