High-Throughput Computing Guided Low/High Index Optical Coupling Layer for Record-Performance Semitransparent Organic Solar Cells

Semitransparent organic solar cells (ST-OSCs) can be made in different colors, allowing light to pass through, and yet absorb enough visible and near-infrared (NIR) light to generate electricity. However, it remains a challenge to achieve high performing ST-OSCs over the two competing indexes of power conversion efficiency (PCE) and average visible transmittance (AVT). This work reports an effort to develop record-performance ST-OSCs using a low/high index optical coupling layer (OCL) and a 2D photonic-structured antireflective (AR) coating. High-throughput optical screening is used to improve the understanding of OCL structure−performance relationships and the predicting of NIR absorption enhancement for ST-OSCs. The concurrent use of a low/high index Na3AlF6 (170 nm)/ZnS (110 nm) OCL, identified among about 200 thousand simulated device configurations and a 900 nm pitch-sized 2D photonic-structured AR coating, fabricated using nanoimprint lithography, enables the record-performance ternary PM6:BTP-eC9:L8-BO-based ST-OSCs, achieving simultaneously a record-high PCE of 15.2%, a high AVT of 32%, an impressive light utilization efficiency of 4.86%, and a favorable color-rendering index of 82. The results of the ST-OSCs demonstrated in this work provide an attractive option for a plethora of applications in self-powered greenhouses and building-integrated photovoltaic systems.