Photogeneration in Organic Solar Cells (Photogen)

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Carsten Deibel; Professor Dr. Karl Leo, since 1/2018
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 362992821

Even though organic solar cells based on electron donor and electron acceptor materials have reached power conversion efficiencies over 13 %, the detailed fundamental working principles of these devices are not understood. In contrast to inorganic materials, efficient free carrier generation upon light absorption in organic materials is initiated by a charge transfer event at a donor-acceptor interface, resulting in a certain amount of energy losses. A further increase in power conversion efficiency through rational design of new materials can only occur with the knowledge of the factors which allow to minimize this energy loss, while maintaining a high and field independent free charge carrier generation yield. In this project, we will therefore utilize and further develop experimental techniques to measure the interfacial electronic structure and photo-generation yield with associated energy loss. This project will result in design rules for new molecules, donor--acceptor combinations and nano-morphologies for less internal energy losses, higher operating voltages and thus more efficient organic solar cells.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Koen Vandewal, Ph.D., until 12/2017