Electron donor-fullerene conjugated molecules for organic photovoltaic cells

US9478746B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON · US

Inventors

• Xiong Gong · Goleta, US
• Stephen Z. D. Cheng · Akron, US
• Wei Zhang · Lanzhou, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 6, 2013
• Grant date: Oct 25, 2016
• Expiry date: Aug 6, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/549

Abstract

A photovoltaic cell has an active area formed electron donor-fullerene conjugated molecules. The electron donor is formed of a polymer, which is conjugated with an electron acceptor, such as fullerene. By conjugating the fullerene, such as C60, with electron donor moieties, such as that of the polymer, double channels are formed therebetween, whereby one channel provides hole transport and the other channel provides electron transport. As a result, the electronic coupling between the fullerene and the electron donor moiety leads to increased short-circuit current density (Jsc) and increased open-circuit voltage (Voc), resulting in high power conversion efficacy (PCE) in the solar cell.