Polymer photovoltaic cell
View Patent ↗This disclosure relates to a photovoltaic cell that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an active layer disposed between the first and second electrodes. The active layer includes two different fullerenes. The weight ratio of the first fullerene to the second fullerene is at least about 1:20.
1. A photovoltaic cell, comprising:
a first electrode;
a second electrode; and
an active layer disposed between the first and second electrodes, the active layer comprising a first fullerene and a second fullerene different from the first fullerene, and a weight ratio of the first fullerene to the second fullerene being at least about 1:20,
wherein the first fullerene is an unsubstituted fullerene selected from the group consisting of C 60 , C 70 , C 76 , C 82 , C 84 , and C 92 , and the second fullerene selected from the group consisting of PCBM and PCBG is a substituted fullerene.
2. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio is at least about 1:10.
3. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio is at least about 1:5.
4. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio is at least about 1:3.
5. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio is at least about 1:1.
6. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio is at most about 3:1.
7. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio is at least about 1:9.
8. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell has an efficiency of at least about 0.5%.
9. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell has an efficiency of at least about 1%.
10. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell has an efficiency of at least about 2%.
11. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell has a first efficiency before being heated and a second efficiency after being heated at a temperature of at least about 50° C. for at least about 5 minutes, and the second efficiency is at least about 50% of the first efficiency.
12. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell has a first efficiency before being heated and a second efficiency after being heated at a temperature of at least about 50° C. for at least about 5 minutes, and the second efficiency is at least about 80% of the first efficiency.
13. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell has a first efficiency before being heated and a second efficiency after being heated at a temperature of at least about 50° C. for at least about 5 minutes, and the second efficiency is at least about 90% of the first efficiency.
14. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the first fullerene and the second fullerene are substantially non-phase separated.
15. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the active layer further comprises an electron donor material.
16. The photovoltaic cell of claim 15 , wherein the electron donor material comprises polyacetylene, polyaniline, polyphenylene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), polythienylvinylene, polythiophene, polyporphyrin, porphyrinic macrocycle, polymetallocene, polyisothianaphthalene, polyphthalocyanine, a discotic liquid crystal polymer, or a derivative thereof.
17. A module, comprising a plurality of the photovoltaic cells of claim 1 , at least some of the photovoltaic cells being electrically connected.
18. The module of claim 17 , wherein at least some of the cells are connected in series.
19. The module of claim 17 , wherein at least some of the cells are connected in parallel.
20. A photovoltaic cell, comprising:
a first electrode;
a second electrode; and
an active layer disposed between the first and second electrodes;
wherein the active layer comprises a first fullerene and a second fullerene different from the first fullerene, the first fullerene is an unsubstituted fullerene selected from the group consisting of C 60 , C 70 , C 76 , C 82 , C 84 , and C 92 , the second fullerene is substituted fullerene selected form the group consisting of PCBM and PCBG, a weight ratio of the first fullerene to the second fullerene is at least about 1:20, the photovoltaic cell has a first efficiency before being heated and a second efficiency after being heated to a temperature of at least about 50° C. for at least about 5 minutes, and the second efficiency is at least about 50% of the first efficiency.
21. The photovoltaic cell of claim 20 , wherein the first fullerene and the second fullerene are substantially non-phase separated.
22. The photovoltaic cell of claim 20 , wherein the weight ratio is at least about 1:10.
23. The photovoltaic cell of claim 22 , wherein the weight ratio is at least about 1:5.
24. The photovoltaic cell of claim 22 , wherein the weight ratio is at least about 1:3.
25. The photovoltaic cell of claim 22 , wherein the weight ratio is at least about 1:1.
26. The photovoltaic cell of claim 22 , wherein the weight ratio is at most about 3:1.
27. The photovoltaic cell of claim 22 , wherein the weight ratio is at least about 1:9.
28. The photovoltaic cell of claim 22 , wherein the first fullerene and the second fullerene are substantially non-phase separated.
29. The photovoltaic cell of claim 20 , wherein the first efficiency is at least about 0.5%.
30. The photovoltaic cell of claim 20 , wherein the first efficiency is at least about 1%.
31. The photovoltaic cell of claim 20 , wherein the first efficiency is at least about 2%.
32. The photovoltaic cell of claim 20 , wherein the second efficiency is at least about 80% of the first efficiency.
33. The photovoltaic cell of claim 20 , wherein the second efficiency is at least about 90% of the first efficiency.
34. The photovoltaic cell of claim 20 , wherein the active layer further comprises an electron donor material.
35. The photovoltaic cell of claim 34 , wherein the electron donor material comprises polyacetylene, polyaniline, polyphenylene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), polythienylvinylene, polythiophene, polyporphyrin, porphyrinic macrocycle, polymetallocene, polyisothianaphthalene, polyphthalocyanine, a discotic liquid crystal polymer, or a derivative thereof.
36. A module, comprising a plurality of the photovoltaic cells of claim 20 , at least some of the photovoltaic cells being electrically connected.
37. The module of claim 36 , wherein at least some of the cells are connected in series.
38. The module of claim 36 , wherein at least some of the cells are connected in parallel.