Building an Organic Solar Cell: Fundamental Procedures for Device Fabrication

Katerina Anagnostou, Minas M. Stylianakis, Konstantinos Petridis and Emmanuel Kymakis
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Katerina Anagnostou: Center of Materials Technology and Photonics, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU), 71004 Heraklion, Greece
Minas M. Stylianakis: Center of Materials Technology and Photonics, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU), 71004 Heraklion, Greece
Konstantinos Petridis: Center of Materials Technology and Photonics, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU), 71004 Heraklion, Greece
Emmanuel Kymakis: Center of Materials Technology and Photonics, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU), 71004 Heraklion, Greece

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-23

Abstract: This laboratory experiment is designed to train undergraduate students in the fundamental steps followed in engineering solution-processed organic solar cells and to offer insight on the operating principles of said device. Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells represent a photovoltaic architecture which has attracted a lot of attention due to its promising properties; moreover, this architecture, due to its low cost and potential, is continuously being investigated and improved. This paper is intended as a useful step-by-step guide for students and researchers to learn how to construct such a device. Another primary objective of this article is to highlight the importance of optimizing device performance through enhancing the optical, electrical, and morphological properties of the materials selected as building blocks. Once a completed organic solar cell is made, students will also learn how to investigate and assess its performance through a series of spectroscopic, electrical, and morphological characterization measurements.

Keywords: photovoltaic effect; organic solar cells (OSCs); bulk heterojunction (BHJ); fabrication process; laboratory equipment; interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary; donor/acceptor material; power conversion efficiency (PCE); hands-on learning/manipulatives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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